Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry system for high throughput analysis and materials characterization

本申请申请的资金将用于购买基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间/飞行时间质谱仪(MALDI-TOF/TOF MS)。该仪器将被一些研究人员用来推进以下方面的工作：1)开发和实施用于小分子化学分析的新的、快速、灵敏和选择性的分析方法，以及2)生物分子和新型合成材料(即分子、络合物和聚合物)的表征。将在这项工作中分析的化合物/分子对环境或人类健康构成风险，或代表潜在的商业或科学价值，例如，具有化学活性(例如催化剂)、生物活性(例如营养食品、药品)或功能材料(例如生物聚合物、能源使用或储存的新材料等)的化合物。使用MALDI-MS进行灵敏和高通量的小分子分析仍然不常见，但预计这项工作中开发的开创性方法将有助于环境保护，在环境保护中，减轻和控制环境中的有毒化合物依赖于快速、灵敏的分析方法，并用于药物和营养分析，在这些分析中，快速筛选方法对于质量保证是必要的。分析水中污染物的方法将为更广泛的筛查计划和更好地评估加拿大的环境和供水状况提供一种手段。此外，该系统的分析能力对于研究开发更环保的化学工艺(绿色化学、绿色催化剂)、开发新的药品或营养食品以及更有效地利用木材和鱼类废料等废物至关重要；所有这些成果都具有经济价值。加拿大的另一个重要好处是每年向数十名本科生和研究生提供高质量的培训和实践经验。由此产生的技能组合在医学、工业研发、环境分析等领域的需求一直很大。

The funding requested in this application will be used to acquire a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). This instrument will be used by several researchers to advance work on: 1) development and implementation of new, rapid, sensitive and selective analytical methods for chemical analysis of small molecules, and 2) characterization of biomolecules and novel synthetic materials (i.e., molecules, complexes and polymers). Compounds/molecules that will be analyzed in this work pose risks to the environment or human health, or represent potential commercial or scientific value, for example, compounds that are chemically-active (e.g. catalysts), biologically-active (e.g. nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals) or are functional materials (e.g. biopolymers, new materials for energy use or storage, etc.). The use of MALDI- MS for sensitive and high throughput analysis of small molecules is still not common, but it is anticipated that the ground-breaking methods developed in this work will be useful for environmental protection, where mitigation and control of toxic compounds in the environment rely on rapid, sensitive analytical methods, and for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical analysis, where rapid screening methods are necessary for quality assurance. The methods for analysis water-borne contaminants will provide a means for broader screening programs and better assessment of the state of the environment and water supplies in Canada. Furthermore, the analytical capabilities of the system will be essential for research on development of more environmentally-friendly chemical processes (green chemistry, green catalysts), development of new pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, and more productive use of waste products like wood and fish waste; all outcomes of economic value. Another important benefit to Canada will be the high-quality training and hands-on experience provided on this instrument to tens of undergraduate and graduate students each year. The resulting skill-set is consistently in demand in medicine, industrial R&D, environmental analysis, etc.