Open AccessImproving Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Sensitivity Using a Subambient Pressure Ionization with Nanoelectrospray (SPIN) Interface
Author(s) -
Keqi Tang,
Jason S. Page,
Ioan Marginean,
Ryan Kelly,
Richard Smith
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of the american society for mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1879-1123
pISSN - 1044-0305
DOI - 10.1007/s13361-011-0135-7
Subject(s) - chemistry , chromatography , electrospray , mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrospray ionization , ionization , ion source , volumetric flow rate , torr , atmospheric pressure , solvent , ion , organic chemistry , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , geology
In this work, the subambient pressure ionization with nanoelectrospray (SPIN) ion source and interface, which operates at ~15-30 Torr, is demonstrated to be compatible with gradient reversed-phase liquid chromatography-MS applications, exemplified here with the analysis of complex samples (a protein tryptic digest and a whole cell lysate). A low liquid chromatographic flow rate (100-400 nL/min) allowed stable electrospray to be established while avoiding electrical breakdown. Efforts to increase the operating pressure of the SPIN source relative to previously reported designs prevented solvent freezing and enhanced charged cluster/droplet desolvation. A 5- to 12-fold improvement in sensitivity relative to a conventional atmospheric pressure nanoelectrospray ionization (ESI) source was obtained for detected peptides.