title: Titanium dioxide anatase as matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization analysis of small molecules.
abstract: The use of inorganic species as assisting materials in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) analysis is an alternative approach to avoid interfering matrix ions in the low-mass region of the mass spectra. Reports of the application of inorganic species as matrices in MALDI analysis of small molecules are, however, scarce. Nevertheless, titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) powder has been reported to be a promising matrix medium. In this study we further explore the use of TiO(2) as a matrix for the MALDI analysis of low molecular weight compounds. We present results showing that nanosized TiO(2) anatase and TiO(2) rutile perform better as MALDI matrices than a commercial TiO(2) anatase/rutile mixture. Moreover, when using nanosized TiO(2) anatase as a matrix, high-quality mass spectra can be obtained with strong analyte signals and weak or non-existing matrix interference ions. Furthermore, our results show that the phase type plays an important role in the application of TiO(2) as a MALDI matrix.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química e Bioquímica da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Ed. C8, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Paulo J Amorim
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Madeira
authors.forename: Manuel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: M Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Florêncio
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002110:Caffeine / Q000737:chemistry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011794:Quercetin / Q000737:chemistry; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002110:Caffeine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011794:Quercetin; D014025:Titanium; C025257:2-chloroaniline