title: Inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle surfaces for the detection of low molecular weight biomolecules by laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: Effective detection of low molecular weight compounds in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is often hindered by matrix interferences in the low m/z region of the mass spectrum. Here, we show that monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can serve as alternate matrices for the very sensitive detection of low molecular weight compounds such as amino acids. Amino acids can be detected at low fmol levels with minimal interferences by properly choosing the AuNP deposition method, density, size, and monolayer surface chemistry. By inkjet-printing AuNPs at various densities, we find that AuNP clusters are essential for obtaining the greatest sensitivity. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa L M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Marsico
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Creran
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: S Gokhan
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Elci
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Onasch
authors.affiliation: Aerodyne Research, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Joda
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wormhoudt
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Rotello
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA. rwvachet@chem.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Vachet
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011327:Printing; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D006046:Gold
keywords: Amino acids; Inkjet-printing; Laser desorption/ionization; Nanoparticles