New approaches to improve thermal desorption of small organic molecules by LDTD-MS/MS

许多领域对快速化学分析的需求越来越大。为了降低成本并迅速交付结果，客户、环境和食品安全机构的分析化学家依赖高通量技术。Phytronix Technologies(魁北克，昆士兰)是串联质谱仪高通量分析领域的世界领先者。该公司希望通过增加LDTD源可以检测到的小有机分子的数量来扩大其旗舰产品LDTD源的市场。该公司多年来一直致力于开发利用LDTD源提高灵敏度的各种方法。Phytronix没有人力资源和时间进行系统研究。多亏了之前的Engage赠款，我们与Phytronix合作开发了一种用于筛选环境污染物的分析方法。此外，我们还成功地确定了一种新的模板涂层来提高小分子的灵敏度。我们希望探索其他表面涂层，并尝试对Phytronix感兴趣的有机小分子进行不同的快速衍生化程序。在这里，我们提出了一个为期6个月的项目，目标是：i)研究由生物聚合物(蛋白质)组成的涂层的效果，这些涂层可以提高LDTD中有问题的化合物(如有机酸和胺)的灵敏度；以及ii)开发一种替代方法，通过化学衍生化来改善一些有机小分子的热解吸和电离。预计我们的研究将提供更多关于最佳样品板涂层和衍生条件的信息，这些条件将扩大LDTD-MS/MS可检测到的化合物的数量。我们将与研发人员密切合作，以最大限度地提高技术转让和结果，这将对Phytronix Technologies的产品和客户有用，我们将使用Phytronix的实验室。鉴于化学分析在加拿大对公共健康、环境保护和消费者保护的重要性，所有加拿大人都将受益于更高效的高通量技术，如LDTD-MS/MS。此外，我们的工作将使菲创有机会在加拿大拓展新市场并创造新的就业机会。

Fast chemical analysis is in increasing demand in many fields. To reduce costs and deliver results promptly topatients, environmental and food safety agencies, analytical chemists rely on high-throughput technologies.Phytronix Technologies (Quebec, QC) is a World leader in high-throughput analysis by tandem massspectrometry. The company wishes to expand the market of its flagship product, the LDTD source, byincreasing the number of small organic molecules that can be detected with it. The company has worked foryears in the development of diverse approaches to improve sensitivity using the LDTD source. Phytronix doesnot have the human resources and time to work on systematic studies. Thanks to a previous Engage grant, weworked with Phytronix to develop an analytical method for the screening of environmental contaminants. Also,we successfully identified a new sample plate coating to improve the sensitivity of small molecules. We wantto explore other surface coatings and try different fast derivatization procedures for small organic molecules ofinterest for Phytronix. Here we propose a 6-month project in which we will aim to: i) study the effect ofcoatings composed of biopolymers (proteins) that may improve sensitivity for problematic compounds inLDTD such as organic acids and amines; and ii) develop an alternative approach to improve thermal desorptionand ionization of some small organic molecules by chemical derivatization. It is expected that our studies willyield more information on optimal sample plate coatings and derivatization conditions that will widen thenumber of compounds detectable by LDTD-MS/MS. We will work closely with R&D staff in order tomaximize technology transfer and results that will be useful for Phytronix Technologies products and clientsand we will use Phytronix's laboratory. Given the importance in Canada of chemical analysis in public health,conservation of the environment and protection of consumers, all Canadians will benefit of more efficienthigh-throughput technologies such as LDTD-MS/MS. Additionally, our work will give Phytronix theopportunity to expand to new markets and create new jobs in Canada.