Research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute develops mass spectrometry for general use
Customs officials want to detect contraband. Doctors want to know how quickly a patient is metabolizing a therapeutic drug. And suppliers of organic products, from nutritional supplements to honey, want to know their raw materials are pure. Each case calls for mass spectrometry – a technique that identifies molecules based on their mass – but current instruments are bulky, expensive, and typically specialize in one class of chemicals, discouraging widespread use outside of a specialized lab setting.
Mass spectrometry is up to the challenge, but better technology is needed to make more flexible instruments. One promising research area uses an atmospheric-pressure glow discharge plasma – a partially ionized gas that can be made stable at room temperature and pressure – to probe samples for elemental and molecular species, and could lead to user-friendly mass-spectrometry analyses with broad capabilities.
“Ideally we want one system that can detect everything, and we want to be able to take that system into the field to test materials on site,” said Jacob Shelley, an expert in plasma-based ambient mass spectrometry instruments who recently joined the faculty at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. “We’re trying to make a more flexible instrument that will allow us to detect many things simultaneously. That’s our goal.”
Mass spectrometry takes advantage of the simple truth that atoms of each element, as well as ions and isotopes of those elements, have a unique mass. Therefore molecules – made up of atoms, ions, and isotopes – also have a unique mass. A mass spectrometer uses an electric or magnetic field to measure the mass of a molecule, producing a signal that can be translated into the identity of the chemical species: caffeine is 195; dipheylamine, a chemical sprayed on apples, is 170; cocaine is 304.
The hitch is that current instruments can only process molecules that are in gas state and ionized (possess a positive or negative charge), which means most samples must be processed before they are introduced into the mass spectrometer for analysis. For now, mass spectrometry relies on a variety of time-consuming processing methods that separate and ionize molecules prior to analysis. And depending on the method, samples like foods, pharmaceuticals, or tissue may be destroyed during processing.
The biggest challenge to a generalized processing method is the chemistry needed to ionize the molecule, said Shelley. Most of the methods that have been developed rely on specific chemistries that favor ionization of one class of molecules over another. Shelley is developing a method that takes advantage of the unusual properties and chemistries of plasmas, which are rich in free-moving ions and electrons, and therefore highly interactive. Although the most commonly known plasmas are extremely hot – at nearly 10,000 degrees Kelvin, some plasmas rival the temperature of the sun – Shelley is working with more recently developed glow discharge plasmas, which are stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
In his lab, Shelley demonstrates an experimental instrument so benign it can test samples ionized from a fingertip, and so versatile it can detect species from relatively small trace amounts of metals to large labile biomolecules like peptides and proteins. In developing the technology, Shelley’s research group has used the instrument to detect counterfeit honey, to quantify harmful toxins in freshwater algal blooms, and to screen the raw materials used in nutritional supplements.
“The plasma is useful as an ionization source because it makes a diverse range of chemistries available,” said Shelley. “It may make it possible to ionize a broad class of molecules, which could lead to more generalized instruments.”
Learn more: Detection for the Masses
The Latest on: Mass spectrometry
[google_news title=”” keyword=”mass spectrometry” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
- Mass Spectrometry Market Size to Reach USD 12.3 Billion By 2032, at 8.8% CAGR: Dimension Market Researchon April 24, 2024 at 9:40 am
Dominant Technologies and Deployment Models in Mass SpectrometryNew York, April 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overview The Global Mass Spectrometry Market was valued of USD 5.7 billion in 2023 which is ...
- New sustainable diagnostic approach offers precision cancer testing with minimal environmental impacton April 24, 2024 at 3:51 am
In a recent study in Nature Sustainability, researchers describe a diagnostic approach that combines dried sera spots (DSS) with nanoparticle-enhanced laser desorption and ionization mass ...
- Mass Spectrometry – Webinars and Online Eventson April 21, 2024 at 1:52 am
This presentation will focus on the shift towards hydrogen as a carrier gas in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), motivated by helium's scarcity and high cost. It will discuss the benefits ...
- Unlocking the Secrets of Space Chemistry With Cold Coulomb Crystalson April 21, 2024 at 1:11 am
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed experiments to replicate the chemical reactions of the Interstellar Medium, using techniques like laser cooling and mass spectrometry ...
- ARTICLE: Advancing Security: Mass Spectrometer’s Superior Detection for Trace Elements in Explosives and Narcoticson April 18, 2024 at 5:13 am
The surge in airport security technology over the last two decades has ushered in a new era in ensuring safe passage for travelers.
- New time-resolved ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry strategy for target protein stability analysison April 16, 2024 at 6:36 am
How mutations impact protein stability and structure dynamics is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanism of the disease and the targeted drug design. However, probing the molecular details ...
- 908 Devices: Rare Early-Stage Bioprocess Investment Opportunityon April 10, 2024 at 9:50 am
Devices is a promising company producing mass spectrometry and bioprocess analysis tools, and shows a profitable future. Learn why I rate MASS stock a buy.
- Enhance ToF Mass Spectrometry with Low-Noise, High-Speed ADCson April 9, 2024 at 12:25 pm
What is time-of-flight mass spectrometry? How ToF MS has gained more interest since the commercialization of MALDI. Why a high-speed ADC is key to ToF MS performance. Mixed-signal front end that ...
- Revolutionizing chronic disease management with 3D-printed mass spectrometer componentson April 3, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Mass spectrometry, a technique that can precisely identify the chemical components of a sample, could be used to monitor the health of people who suffer from chronic illnesses. For instance ...
- Mass Spectrometry: Unveiling the Secrets of Moleculeson April 2, 2024 at 8:26 pm
Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique used to identify and quantify molecules based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). It provides valuable information about the chemical composition, ...
via Google News and Bing News