CRIF: MU - Acquisition of a Cyber-Enabled Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometer

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This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).With this award from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Multiuser program (CRIF:MU), Lynn S. Penn and colleagues Haifeng Ji, Kevin G. Owens, Yen Wei, and Jun Zi from Drexel University will acquire a acquire a cyber-enabled matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI/TOF) with post source decay (PSD) capabilities to provide accurate determinations of molecular weight distribution and average molecular weights of large, nonvolatile molecules, and to accomplish peptide analyses. The instrument will be used for understanding size selection criteria by which polymer brushes act as selective barriers to diffusion, synthesis of monodisperse electroactive polyanilines, synthesis and study of dendrons of controlled size, identification and characterization of the specific chemical sites involved in complexation of selected proteins, synthesis of polyelectrolytes for use in layer-bylayer formation of ultra-thin films, and synthesis of designed copolymers for creation of controlled two-phase microstructures on carbon nanotubes.MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry is the technique of choice for obtaining accurate molecular weights on very large molecules, with extremely high sensitivity. Use of a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer has therefore become a standard technique, especially in studies involving biomolecules and polymers. This research will have a significant impact in a number of areas, especially chemistry, materials and biochemistry. This instrument will be an integral part of teaching as well as research.