"Development, Characterization, and Application of Bio-analytical Methodologies Based on Optical and Mass Spectrometry"

质谱（MS）是化学和生物化学分析中最强大的技术之一，特别是当与分离方法如液相色谱（LC）结合时。我们正在研究大气压光电离（APPI），电离方法接口LC和MS。我们的研究旨在表征和提高APPI的性能，包括开发新的APPI设备。我们研究的另一个目的是开发一种实用的新方法，用于实现肽和蛋白质的电子捕获解离（ECD），适用于所有电喷雾质谱仪。这项工作将建立在我们最近发明的一个源大气压ECD方法，基于APPI技术。另一个目标是开发和演示在应用中使用AP-ECD的完整方法。这项工作很重要，因为它将为全世界的研究人员提供具有成本效益的ECD技术，这是生物和生物医学研究中肽和蛋白质分析的有力工具。 拉曼光谱（RS）基于非弹性散射光的分析，并且其广泛用于提供关于样品的分子特异性信息。RS非常有用，因为它可以提供有关分析物的化学组成和结构以及分析物嵌入的化学和物理环境的详细信息。我们正在使用RS来研究生物化学系统。例如，与加拿大血液服务中心的科学家合作，我们将使用RS来调查和评估红细胞（RBC）储存损伤。本研究的目标是表征储存的人血中的RBC老化;识别RBC储存损伤的特定光谱标记物，并将这些标记物与常规生化测定相关联;最后开发一种现场可用的基于RS的系统，用于非破坏性和非侵入性地评估常规储存袋中RBC的状态/状况。

Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most powerful techniques for chemical and biochemical analysis, particularly when combined with a separation method such as liquid chromatography (LC). We are investigating atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI), an ionization method for interfacing LC and MS. Our research aims to both characterize and improve the performance of APPI, including developing novel APPI devices. An additional objective of our research is to develop a practical new means of implementing electron capture dissociation (ECD) of peptides and proteins, suitable for use with all electrospray mass spectrometers. This work will build upon our recent invention of an in-source atmospheric pressure ECD method, based upon APPI technology. Another aim is to develop and demonstrate complete methods for using AP-ECD in applications. This work is important because it will provide researchers worldwide cost-effective access to ECD technology, a powerful tool for peptide and protein analysis in biological and biomedical research. Raman spectroscopy (RS) is based on the analysis of inelastically scattered light and it is widely used to provide molecule-specific information about a sample. RS is very useful because it can provide detailed information about the chemical composition and structure of an analyte, as well as the chemical and physical environment in which the analyte is imbedded. We are using RS for the study of biochemical systems. For example, in collaboration with scientists at the Canadian Blood Service, we will use RS to investigate and assess red blood cell (RBC) storage lesion. The goals of this research are to characterize RBC ageing in stored human blood; to identify specific spectral markers for RBC storage lesion and correlate these markers with conventional biochemical assays; and finally to develop a site-useable RS-based system for non-destructively and non-invasively assessing the status/condition of RBCs within conventional storage bags.