MRI: Acquisition of a MALDI TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometer with Imaging Capabilities to Advance Research and Education at Carnegie Mellon University

该奖项由主要研究仪器项目和化学研究仪器项目支持。卡内基梅隆大学正在购买一台基质辅助激光解吸/电离串联飞行时间(MALDI-TOF-TOF)质谱仪，以支持Mark Bier教授和他的同事。通常，质谱仪是用于鉴定和表征复杂样品中少量化学物种的关键分析方法之一。MALDI TOF将温和的电离(非常适合生产完整的多肽、蛋白质、核酸、碳水化合物、合成聚合物和其他类似大小物种的离子)与检测模式相结合，在广泛的质量范围内提供了灵敏度和准确性之间的极佳平衡。这种高度灵敏的技术可以识别和确定复杂混合物中的分子结构。此次收购加强了大学和地区的研究基础设施。该仪器通过让不同的学生参与到这一现代分析技术中来扩大参与。匹兹堡大学和其他地区机构的合作者以及工业用户也使用它。MALDI-TOF-TOF也被本科生和研究生使用，并在奥克兰规划与发展公司学校针对低收入少数族裔学生的暑期项目中使用。授予具有成像能力的MALDI-TOF-TOF质谱仪旨在加强各级研究和教育。这对于开发具有药物潜力的蛋白质和核酸分子的传递系统以及改进原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)的研究特别有用。该仪器还用于原子精确监测金和金基合金纳米团簇，并研究脂质过氧化和氧化应激。该仪器还为研究人员提供原位核酸成像以及开发用于研究潜在疗法的RNA-RNA和RNA-蛋白质相互作用的工具，因为它们与辉瑞/BioNTech和莫德纳的脂类纳米颗粒mRNA疗法有关，这些疗法已被FDA授予EUA(紧急使用授权)，用作SARS-CoV-2疫苗。质谱仪还用于手性伽马多肽核酸(PNA)的设计和开发以及其他修饰核酸的研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is supported by the Major Research Instrumentation and the Chemistry Research Instrumentation programs. Carnegie Mellon University is acquiring a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometer to support Professor Mark Bier and colleagues. In general, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species in complex samples. MALDI TOF combines gentle ionization (ideal for producing intact ions of peptides, proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, synthetic polymers, and other similarly sized species) with a detection mode that offers an excellent balance between sensitivity and accuracy across a wide mass range. This highly sensitive technique allows identification and determination of the structure of molecules in a complex mixture. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at the university and regional area. The instrument broadens participation by involving diverse students with this modern analytical technique. It is also used by collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh and other regional institutions as well as industrial users. The MALDI-TOF-TOF is also employed by undergraduate and graduate students and in a summer program targeting low-income minority students from Oakland Planning and Development Corporation School.The award of the MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometer with imaging capabilities is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It is especially useful for studies in the development of delivery systems for protein and nucleic acid-based molecules with potential to serve as drugs and for improving atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The instrumentation is also used for monitoring atomically precise gold and gold-based alloy nanoclusters and studies of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. The instrument also serves researchers imaging nucleic acids in situ and those developing tools for studying RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions for potential therapeutics since they are related to lipid nanoparticle mRNA therapeutics from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that have been afforded EUA (emergency use authorization) by the FDA for use as SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The mass spectrometer is also utilized in the design and development of chiral gamma peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as well as in other studies of modified nucleic acids.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.