Influence of conformation of synthetic polymers on desorption and ionization in MALDI-ToF mass spectrometrie

本项目将有助于阐明合成聚合物拓扑结构对MALDI-ToF质谱分析的影响。通过系统比较具有相同化学结构但不同构象（环状、线型、星形等）的聚合物，可以更好地了解质谱仪源中的脱附和电离过程。此外，这些具有不同拓扑结构的聚合物的MALDI实验应该扩展到两个不同的质量范围，以明确区分拓扑效应和摩尔质量效应。与另一种质谱技术（电喷雾电离- ESI）相比，解吸过程有助于电离概率，可以从电离步骤中分离出来。最后，结果将定义聚合物拓扑结构可能引起的识别效应，从而有助于更好地量化MALDI技术。

This project shall contribute to elucidate the influence of topology of synthetic polymers in the MALDI-ToF mass spectrometric analysis. By systematic comparison of polymers having identical chemical structure but different conformations (rings, linears, stars etc.) a better understanding of desorption and ionization processes in the source of the mass spectrometer can be obtained. Moreover, these MALDI experiments of polymers with different topologies should be extended to two different mass ranges to clearly differentiate between topological and molar mass effects. By comparison with another MS technique (electrospray ionisation – ESI) the desorption process, which contributes to the ionization probability, can be separated from the ionization step. Finally, the results shall define possible discrimination effects caused by polymer topologies and thus, contribute to a better quantification of the MALDI technique.