OPTIMIZATION OF TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROSCOPY

提出了一种提高基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱仪性能的新技术。这种新方法可以显著扩展线性光谱仪的高分辨率质量范围，从而使飞行时间法更适用于复杂的生物大分子混合物的分析。我们的数值计算表明，一个简单的线性TOF光谱仪的性能可以提高到更复杂和更昂贵的反射系统的水平。这项建议描述了一种在不改变现有结构的情况下优化线性飞行时间(TOF)光谱仪性能的新方法。

The development of a new technique to improve the performance of matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry is proposed. This new method could significantly extend the high resolution mass range of linear spectrometers, and would therefore make TOF much more useful for the analysis of complex mixtures of heavy biomolecules. Our numerical calculations show that the performance of a simple, linear TOF spectrometer can be improved to the level of the much more complex and expensive reflection systems. This proposal describes a new approach for optimizing the performance of linear time-of-flight (TOF) spectrometers without alterations to the existing structure. During Phase I we will use this technique to improve TDA Research Inc.'s current spectrometer to experimentally show the feasibility of the concept. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This technology will offer significant improvements to TOF mass spectrometers through the use of an inexpensive add-on device. The increased high resolution mass range will then make TOF-MS a more powerful tool for the analysis of biomolecules.