Purchase of Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

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The acquisition of a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities. Professor Hercules and his students at Vanderbilt University will use this instrument to study problems such as the characterization of diverse polymer systems, the rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of thin-layer chromatography plates, the quantitative analysis of FKBP binding proteins to better understand its role in calcium homeostasis, and the detection of aflatoxins. This instrument is central to this research program and it will replace a failing fifteen year old instrument. A replacement mass spectrometer is being purchased with the capability of doing highly sensitive and selective analysis of complex organic and biological materials. The materials being studied cover a wide range of polymers and include important biological compounds such as the binding protein FKBP and the highly toxic aflatoxin B1. A very broad range of applications and methods of analysis will be developed using this instrument. Important components of this mass spectrometer include matrix assisted laser desorption ionization sample introduction and time- of-flight mass analysis.