Studies of New Ionization Approaches in Mass Spectrometry for Imaging

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With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program, Professor Charles N. McEwen of the University of the Sciences seeks improved understanding of certain newly developed mass spectrometric (MS) ionization methods, with aims of improving reproducibility and sensitivity. These ionization methods (discovered in collaboration with Professor Sarah Trimpin of Wayne State University) have attributes of both matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI). They each produce multiply charged ions, similar to ESI, allowing analysis of high mass compounds and enhancing utility of ion mobility techniques. Increasing the sensitivity and reproducibility of these new ionization methods may make possible high spatial resolution imaging under atmospheric conditions. Areas requiring high throughput analyses (such as consumer protection, counter-terrorism, environmental monitoring, clinical applications, and biological materials analysis) will be impacted by these developments. The broad training gained by the graduate and undergraduate students involved will enhance their future scientific potential.