Acquisition of a Sensitive QTrap LC/MS/MS System for Biomarker Analyses

 描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议购买一个高灵敏度和选择性的LC/MS/MS系统，以支持开发用于暴露和健康研究的新的和已建立的标记物。高灵敏度和选择性是许多应用所需的，例如新一代低流量空气监测仪，并在体积受限的生物样品中识别痕量生物标志物，这是需要这种仪器的主要理由。能够做到这一点，同时增加样品吞吐量（减少积压）和潜在的降低成本显着将是一个主要的好处，所有设施的用户。许多健康 研究只能获得越来越小体积的感兴趣的生物样本，例如来自州出生记录的干血斑或呼出气冷凝物，其中来自肺液的生物标志物已被稀释100倍以上。测量这些样品中的各种生物标志物需要能够最大限度地减少基质干扰的仪器，同时比几年前购买的仪器具有更好的灵敏度。同样，新一代小型低流速空气监测器收集的样品中测量的痕量有机污染物在灵敏度和选择性方面都提出了分析挑战。开发这些采样器是为了更好地描述个人和人群暴露于细颗粒物（PM2.5）及其相关污染物的特征。然而，小型化和低噪声设计导致低流速，这反过来又收集了传统采样器收集的质量的1%至10%。因此，出现了对更灵敏的仪器的需求，以便可以对样品进行目标有机化合物的测量。该系统包括AB Sciex Qtrap 6500质谱仪和岛津NEXERA X2超高效液相色谱仪。该系统提供了前所未有的灵敏度和选择性，同时是一个多功能的仪器，将满足我们的分析要求。Qtrap 6500将是一次重大升级，取代我们使用了15年的降级Thermo TSQ Quantum Classic LC/MS/MS，并支持活跃用户群的需求，由于其高灵敏度和高通量能力以及相对较低的分析费用，我们预计该用户群将随着时间的推移而增长。该仪器将在最先进的HEPA过滤实验室中托管，哥伦比亚大学的两个单位已经做出了强有力的机构承诺，以确保该设施在前五年取得成功，并可以在必要时延长到以后的几年。预计通过哥伦比亚P30 NIEHS中心的试点项目提案，LC/MS/MS核心实验室的方法开发将获得额外资源。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to purchase a highly sensitive and selective LC/MS/MS system in support of development of new and established markers for exposure and health studies. The high sensitivity and selectivity are needed for many applications such as the new generation of low-flow air monitors and to identify trace biomarkers in volume-constrained biological samples, is a primary justification of the need for this instrument. The ability to do this while increasing sample throughput (decreasing backlogs) and potentially lowering costs significantly will be a major benefit to all facility users. Many health studies only have access to smaller and smaller volumes of the biological sample of interest, such as dried blood spots from the state birth record or exhaled breath condensate, in which biomarkers from lung fluid has been diluted for more than 100 times. Measuring various biomarkers in these samples requires instruments that are able to minimize the matrix interference while having better sensitivity than those bought just a few years ago. Similarly, trace organic pollutants measured in samples collected by a new generation of miniaturized low-flow rate air monitors provide analytical challenges both in sensitivity and selectivity. These samplers have been developed to better characterize individual and population exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its associated pollutants. However, the miniaturization and low noise design leads to low flow rates, which in turn collect 1 to 10% of the mass collected by traditional samplers. As such there is an emerging need for much more sensitive instruments so that measurements of target organic compounds can be made on the samples. The proposed system comprises the AB Sciex Qtrap 6500 mass spectrometer and a Shimadzu NEXERA X2 ultra high-performance liquid chromatography. The proposed system provides an unprecedented level of sensitivity and selectivity, while being a versatile instrument that would meet our analytical requirements. The Qtrap 6500 would be a major upgrade, replacing our 15 year old, degraded Thermo TSQ Quantum Classic LC/MS/MS and supporting the needs of an active user group, which we expect to grow with time due to the high sensitivity and high throughput capabilities and relatively low analytical fees. The instrument will be hosted in a stat of the art, HEPA filtered laboratory and strong institutional commitment has been made by two units of Columbia University to ensure the facility's success in the first five years and can be extended to later years, if necessary. Additional resources are expected for method development in the LC/MS/MS core laboratory via the Columbia P30 NIEHS Center calls for pilot project proposals.