title: Silica nanoparticles pre-spotted onto target plate for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analyses of peptides.
abstract: We report on the simple deposition of Stöber silica nanoparticles (SiO(2) NPs) on conventional MALDI target plate for high throughput laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) analyses of peptide mixtures with sensitivity in the femtomolar range. This low-cost easily prepared material allowed straightforward LDI experiments by deposition of the studied samples directly onto a pre-spotted MALDI plate. This analytical strategy can be performed in any laboratory equipped with a MALDI-TOF instrument. All key benefits of organic matrix-free technologies were satisfied while maintaining a high level of detection performances (sensitivity and reproducibility/repeatability). In particular, sample preparation was simple and detection in the low mass range was not hampered by matrix ions. Imaging studies were undertaken to query sample dispersion into the inert SiO(2) NPs and to help into the search of the best experimental conditions producing homogeneous analyte distribution within the deposit. In contrast to commercial disposable LDI targets designed for single use and requiring an adaptor such as NALDI™, the proposed SiO(2) NPs pre-spotting on a MALDI target plate allowed very easily switching between MALDI and LDI experiments. They can be conducted either simultaneously (positions with an organic matrix or SiO(2) NPs) or in the row (support prepared in advance, stored and washed after use). The overall cost and versatility of the methodology made it very attractive to MALDI users in many domains (peptidomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
authors: Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, Universités Montpellier 1 et 2, CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France.
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Dupré
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Cantel
authors: Jean-Olivier
authors: JO
authors: Durand
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Martinez
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Enjalbal
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D007834:Lasers; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D059748:Proteolysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014357:Trypsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014357:Trypsin