Microstructured fibres (MSFs) for nanoelectrospray ionization (nano-esi) and chromatographic applications

我们实验室对开发用于化学分析的新型分离和检测方法很感兴趣。化学分析是众多学科（如环境、医学和“组学”相关研究领域）发现的基础。分析系统的发展速度更快，需要更少的样品和更高的灵敏度是不断需求的，并且对于在细胞/亚细胞水平上探测生物和化学系统至关重要。我们计划采用一种新型光纤材料作为开管液相色谱法和高灵敏度纳米电喷雾电离质谱法的衬底。具有许多不同孔尺寸和孔模式的纤维直到最近才开始商业化。MSF提供的多个平行二氧化硅通道作为纳米层析色谱柱的有前途的底物，因为它们的直径接近理想的相互作用范围（1至3µm）。此外，MSF在纳米电喷雾中的应用有可能大大改善纳米电喷雾的工作方式。传统的发射器是锥形的，因此会受到持续堵塞的影响，并且发射器-发射器的再现性非常差。MSF可以作为发射器，通过纤维的孔隙泵送液体，并且由于有许多流动路径，实际上消除了与堵塞相关的问题。此外，如果每个空穴可以作为一个独立的发射器，那么离子产量和灵敏度将显著增加。因此，更多数量的电喷雾发射器增加了电离效率，从而提高了灵敏度。具有不同孔洞模式和孔洞尺寸的msf将被用于制造纳米电喷雾发射器，既提高了纳米喷雾的鲁棒性，又提高了纳米电喷雾的灵敏度。这些新型纤维在液相色谱和纳米电喷雾中的应用有可能彻底改变这两个研究领域。

Our laboratory is interested in the development of novel separation and detection methods for chemical analysis. Chemical analysis forms the basis for discovery in a wide variety of disciplines (e.g. environment, medical and "omics" related research areas). The development of analysis systems that are faster, require less sample with increased sensitivity are in constant demand and become critical to probing e.g. biological and chemical systems at cellular/sub-cellular levels. We plan to adopt a novel optical fiber material for use as both a substrate for open tubular liquid chromatography and for high sensitivity nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Fibres with a number of different hole sizes and hole patterns have only recently become commercially available. The multiple, parallel silica channels presented by the MSF act as a promising substrate for a nanoOTLC column, as they have diameters near the ideal range for interactions (1 to 3 µm). Furthermore, the application of MSF's for nanoelectrospray has the potential to substantially improve the way in which nanoelectrospray is performed. Conventional emitters are tapered and as a result suffer from continuous clogging and offer very poor emitter-emitter reproducibility. MSF's can function as an emitter by pumping liquid through the pores of the fibre and as a result of the numerous flow paths virtually eliminate problems associated with clogging. Furthermore, if each hole could act as an independent emitter then a significant increase in ion production and sensitivity would result. As such, a greater number of electrospray emitters increase the ionization efficiency leading to enhanced sensitivity. MSFs with different hole patterns and hole sizes will be utilized to manufacture nanoelectrospray emitters that both improve nanospray robustness and enhance nanoelectrospray sensitivity. The application of these novel fibres to both liquid chromatography and nanoelectrospray has the potential to completely revolutionize both research areas.