MRI: Acquisition of a MALDI Tandem Mass Spectrometer (MALDI MS/MS) for Imaging, Biological Research and Chemical Materials Characterization

该奖项由重大研究仪器计划、化学研究仪器计划和既定的激励竞争性研究计划(EPSCoR)共同资助。路易斯安那州立大学的Kermit Murray教授代表该校4个系的11名研究人员，正在购买一台配备光电二极管阵列的基质辅助激光解吸/电离飞行时间质谱仪(MALDI-TOF-MS)。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结合了温和的电离(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)和检测模式，在各种样品的灵敏度和准确性之间提供了极好的平衡。此次收购加强了该大学和该地区的研究基础设施。该工具通过向不同的学生群体提供亲身实践机会来扩大参与度。该工具还用于外联活动。该奖项旨在加强各级的研究和教育。它尤其影响了与分子结构、取向和动力学相关的研究。研究人员使用MALDI-TOF-MS研究了许多令人兴奋的项目。将能够开展旨在开发一种全面的质谱学成像方法的研究，这种方法是定量的，能够识别生物分子。将MALDI成像与红外和紫外激光烧蚀样品转移相结合，用于液相色谱串联质谱分析。此外，还将开发新的方法来进一步改进MALDI技术。开发了两个改进生物成像的新平台。研究人员正在研究日冕电荷图案化对两亲性离子嵌段共聚物平衡聚集体结构的影响。结构精度对离散型线性和支化合成聚合物的性能和功能的影响正在研究中。MALDI正被用于验证最近开发的高分辨率和高速拉曼显微光谱方法，以检测体外和体外脑组织中脂质的调制和图像空间分布。该仪器能够使用非接触式气相反应器阐明均质木质素解聚的基本化学，并将木质素的快速热解升级为生物燃料的形成。该仪器正在协助设计、合成和研究在可见光和近红外区(400-900 nm)吸收和发射的新的荧光团的光物理性质和潜在应用。在目前正在研究的荧光团中，二吡咯亚硼(BODIPY)染料表现出丰富的光物理和光电性质。将获得有关炔烃歧化反应的基础知识，以及如何创建具有更高活性和更广泛底物范围的催化剂的设计规则。这包括设计和合成新的催化剂和配体系统，并从实验和计算两方面分析它们的反应活性。其他研究包括用于辅助生殖技术(ART)的体外成熟卵母细胞的发育能力，一类特定类型的离子液体(IL)化合物的合成和应用，这些化合物被称为“基于有机盐的均匀材料组”(GUMBOS)，用作成像应用的MALDI基质，以及揭示在有限空间中氧化还原活性分子被包裹后电子转移的变化规律。研究人员正在研究含有金属-配体多键的分子催化剂，这些分子催化剂由可再生能源驱动，用于燃料生产和工业应用。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 jointly funded by the Major Research Instrumentation Program, the Chemistry Research Instrumentation Program, and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Professor Kermit Murray from Louisiana State University, on behalf of from 11 investigators in 4 departments across the university, is acquiring a matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) equipped with a photodiode array. 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 range of samples. The acquisition strengthens the research infrastructure at the university and within the regional. The instrument broadens participation by giving hands-on access to a diverse student population. The instrument is also used in outreach activities. The award is aimed at enhancing research and education at all levels. It especially impacts studies correlating molecular structure, orientation and dynamics. Researchers use the MALDI-TOF-MS to study a number of exciting projects. Research will be enabled that is aimed at the development of a comprehensive approach to mass spectrometry imaging that is quantitative and capable of biomolecule identification. MALDI imaging is combined with IR and UV laser ablation sample transfer for liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. In addition, novel approaches to further improve the MALDI technology will be developed. Two new platforms are developed that improve biological imaging. Researchers are investigating the effect of coronal charge patterning on the equilibrium aggregate structure of amphiphilic ionic block copolymers. The impact of structural precision in the properties and functions of discrete linear and branched synthetic polymers are being studied. MALDI is being used to validate recently developed high-resolution and high- speed Raman micro-spectroscopy method to detect lipid modulation and image spatial distribution of lipids in vitro and ex vivo brain tissues. The instrument enables the elucidation of the underlying chemistry of homogeneous lignin depolymerization using a contactless gas phase reactor and upgrade fast pyrolysis of lignin toward formation of biofuel. The instrument is aiding the design, synthesis and study of the photophysical properties and potential applications of new fluorophores that absorb and emit in the visible and near-infrared region of the optical spectrum (400–900 nm). Among the current fluorophores under investigation, boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes display a rich array of photophysical and optoelectronic properties. Fundamental knowledge will be gained on alkyne metathesis reactions and the creation of design rules toward catalysts with higher activity and broader substrate scope. This includes the design and synthesis of new catalyst and ligand systems and analysis of their reactivities both experimentally and computationally. Additional studies enabled are the developmental competence of in vitro matured oocytes for use in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), the synthesis and application of a specific class of ionic liquid (IL) compounds termed, “group of uniform materials based on organic salts” (GUMBOS), which are used as MALDI matrixes for imaging applications, and uncovering the rules governing changes in electron transfer after encapsulation of redox active molecules in confined spaces. Researchers are studying molecular catalysts containing metal-ligand multiple bonds that are driven by renewable energy for fuel production and industrial applications.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.