title: MALDI matrices for biomolecular analysis based on functionalized carbon nanomaterials.
abstract: When used in small molar ratios of matrix to analyte, derivatized fullerenes and single wall nanotubes are shown to be efficient matrices for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The mixing of an acidic functionalized fullerene with a solution of bioanalyte, depositing a dried droplet, and irradiating with a pulsed nitrogen laser yields protonated or cationized molecular ions. Derivatized fullerenes could offer several advantages over conventional MALDI matrices: a high analyte ionization efficiency, a small molar ratios (less than 1) of matrix/analyte, and a broader optical absorption spectrum, which should obviate specific wavelength lasers for MALDI acquisitions. The major disadvantage to the use of fullerenes is the isobaric interference between matrix and analyte ions; however, it is overcome by using MALDI-ion mobility time-of-flight (IM-oTOF) mass spectrometry to preseparate carbon cluster ions from bioanalyte ions prior to TOF mass analysis. However, an alternative to the dried droplet preparation of fullerene MALDI samples is the aerosolization of matrix-analyte solutions (or slurries) followed by impacting the aerosol onto a stainless surface. We also demonstrate that the fullerene matrices can be used to acquire spectra from rat brain tissue.
authors.affiliation: Ionwerks, Inc., 2472 Bolsover, Suite 255, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Michael V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ugarov
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Dmitry V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Khabashesku
authors.forename: J Albert
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Haiqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Valery N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Khabashesku
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.forename: Kimberley S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Prather
authors.forename: H-W J
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Amina S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D036103:Nanotechnology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon