title: Nanostructure imaging mass spectrometry: the role of fluorocarbons in metabolite analysis and yoctomole level sensitivity.
abstract: Nanostructure imaging mass spectrometry (NIMS) has become an effective technology for generating ions in the gas phase, providing high sensitivity and imaging capabilities for small molecules, metabolites, drugs, and drug metabolites. Specifically, laser desorption from the nanostructure surfaces results in efficient energy transfer, low background chemical noise, and the nondestructive release of analyte ions into the gas phase. The modification of nanostructured surfaces with fluorous compounds, either covalent or non-covalent, has played an important role in gaining high efficiency/sensitivity by facilitating analyte desorption from the nonadhesive surfaces, and minimizing the amount of laser energy required. In addition, the hydrophobic fluorinated nanostructure surfaces have aided in concentrating deposited samples into fine micrometer-sized spots, a feature that further facilitates efficient desorption/ionization. These fluorous nanostructured surfaces have opened up NIMS to very broad applications including enzyme activity assays and imaging, providing low background, efficient energy transfer, nondestructive analyte ion generation, super-hydrophobic surfaces, and ultra-high detection sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, BCC007, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kurczy
authors.forename: Trent R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Northen
authors.forename: Sunia A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Trauger
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siuzdak
mesh_terms: D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008660:Metabolism; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons