Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry system for high throughput analysis and materials characterization

本申请所要求的资金将用于购置基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间/飞行时间质谱仪。 该仪器将被几位研究人员用于推进以下工作：1）开发和实施用于小分子化学分析的新的、快速的、灵敏的和选择性的分析方法，以及2）表征生物分子和新型合成材料（即，分子、复合物和聚合物）。本工作中分析的化合物/分子对环境或人类健康构成风险，或代表潜在的商业或科学价值，例如，具有化学活性（例如催化剂）、生物活性（例如营养品、药物）或功能性材料（例如生物聚合物、用于能源使用或储存的新材料等）的化合物。使用MALDI-MS进行小分子的灵敏和高通量分析仍然不常见，但预计这项工作中开发的突破性方法将有助于环境保护，其中环境中有毒化合物的缓解和控制依赖于快速，灵敏的分析方法，以及用于药物和营养品分析，其中快速筛选方法对于质量保证是必要的。分析水传播污染物的方法将为更广泛的筛选方案和更好地评估加拿大的环境和供水状况提供一种手段。 此外，该系统的分析能力对于开发更环保的化学工艺（绿色化学、绿色催化剂）、开发新的药物或营养品以及更有效地利用木材和鱼类废物等废物的研究至关重要;所有这些成果都具有经济价值。 加拿大的另一个重要利益是每年向数十名本科生和研究生提供关于这一工具的高质量培训和实践经验。由此产生的技能组合在医药，工业研发，环境分析等方面一直有需求。

The funding requested in this application will be used to acquire a matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). This instrument will be used by several researchers to advance work on: 1) development and implementation of new, rapid, sensitive and selective analytical methods for chemical analysis of small molecules, and 2) characterization of biomolecules and novel synthetic materials (i.e., molecules, complexes and polymers). Compounds/molecules that will be analyzed in this work pose risks to the environment or human health, or represent potential commercial or scientific value, for example, compounds that are chemically-active (e.g. catalysts), biologically-active (e.g. nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals) or are functional materials (e.g. biopolymers, new materials for energy use or storage, etc.). The use of MALDI- MS for sensitive and high throughput analysis of small molecules is still not common, but it is anticipated that the ground-breaking methods developed in this work will be useful for environmental protection, where mitigation and control of toxic compounds in the environment rely on rapid, sensitive analytical methods, and for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical analysis, where rapid screening methods are necessary for quality assurance. The methods for analysis water-borne contaminants will provide a means for broader screening programs and better assessment of the state of the environment and water supplies in Canada. Furthermore, the analytical capabilities of the system will be essential for research on development of more environmentally-friendly chemical processes (green chemistry, green catalysts), development of new pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals, and more productive use of waste products like wood and fish waste; all outcomes of economic value. Another important benefit to Canada will be the high-quality training and hands-on experience provided on this instrument to tens of undergraduate and graduate students each year. The resulting skill-set is consistently in demand in medicine, industrial R&D, environmental analysis, etc.