New approaches to improve thermal desorption of small organic molecules by LDTD-MS/MS

快速化学分析在许多领域的需求越来越大。为了降低成本并及时向患者、环境和食品安全机构提供结果，分析化学家依赖于高通量技术。Phytronix Technologies（魁北克，QC）是串联质谱高通量分析的世界领导者。该公司希望通过增加其旗舰产品LDTD源可以检测到的小有机分子的数量来扩大其市场。该公司多年来一直致力于开发各种方法来提高使用LDTD源的灵敏度。Phytronix没有人力资源和时间进行系统研究。由于之前的Engage资助，我们与Phytronix合作开发了一种用于筛选环境污染物的分析方法。此外，我们成功地确定了一种新的样品板涂层，以提高小分子的灵敏度。我们想探索其他表面涂层，并尝试不同的快速衍生程序，为小有机分子的感兴趣的Phytronix。在这里，我们提出了一个为期6个月的项目，我们的目标是：i）研究由生物聚合物（蛋白质）组成的涂层的效果，这可能会提高LDTD中有问题的化合物，如有机酸和胺的灵敏度; ii）开发一种替代方法，通过化学衍生来改善一些小有机分子的热解吸和电离。预计我们的研究将产生更多关于最佳样品板涂层和衍生化条件的信息，这些信息将扩大LDTD-MS/MS可检测化合物的范围。我们将与研发人员密切合作，以最大限度地实现技术转让和对Phytronix Technologies产品和客户有用的结果，我们将使用Phytronix的实验室。鉴于化学分析在加拿大公共卫生、环境保护和消费者保护方面的重要性，所有加拿大人都将受益于更高效的高通量技术，如LDTD-MS/MS。

Fast chemical analysis is in increasing demand in many fields. To reduce costs and deliver results promptly topatients, environmental and food safety agencies, analytical chemists rely on high-throughput technologies.Phytronix Technologies (Quebec, QC) is a World leader in high-throughput analysis by tandem massspectrometry. The company wishes to expand the market of its flagship product, the LDTD source, byincreasing the number of small organic molecules that can be detected with it. The company has worked foryears in the development of diverse approaches to improve sensitivity using the LDTD source. Phytronix doesnot have the human resources and time to work on systematic studies. Thanks to a previous Engage grant, weworked with Phytronix to develop an analytical method for the screening of environmental contaminants. Also,we successfully identified a new sample plate coating to improve the sensitivity of small molecules. We wantto explore other surface coatings and try different fast derivatization procedures for small organic molecules ofinterest for Phytronix. Here we propose a 6-month project in which we will aim to: i) study the effect ofcoatings composed of biopolymers (proteins) that may improve sensitivity for problematic compounds inLDTD such as organic acids and amines; and ii) develop an alternative approach to improve thermal desorptionand ionization of some small organic molecules by chemical derivatization. It is expected that our studies willyield more information on optimal sample plate coatings and derivatization conditions that will widen thenumber of compounds detectable by LDTD-MS/MS. We will work closely with R&D staff in order tomaximize technology transfer and results that will be useful for Phytronix Technologies products and clientsand we will use Phytronix's laboratory. Given the importance in Canada of chemical analysis in public health,conservation of the environment and protection of consumers, all Canadians will benefit of more efficienthigh-throughput technologies such as LDTD-MS/MS. Additionally, our work will give Phytronix theopportunity to expand to new markets and create new jobs in Canada.