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

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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.