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Application of matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization to on‐line aerosol time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Stowers M. A.,
van Wuijckhuijse A. L.,
Marijnissen J. C. M.,
Scarlett B.,
van Baar B. L. M.,
Kientz Ch. E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0231(20000530)14:10<829::aid-rcm951>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , aerosol , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrum , chromatography , chemical ionization , bioaerosol , ionization , ion , organic chemistry
Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectra were obtained from single biological aerosol particles using an aerosol time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer (ATOFMS). The inlet to the ATOFMS was coupled with an evaporation/condensation flow cell that allowed the aerosol to be coated with matrix material as the sampled stream entered the spectrometer. Mass spectra were generated from aerosol composed either of gramicidin‐S or erythromycin, two small biological molecules, or from aerosolised spores of Bacillus subtilis var niger . Three different matrices were used: 3‐nitrobenzyl alcohol, picolinic acid and sinapinic acid. A spectrum of gramicidin‐S was generated from approximately 250 attomoles of material using a molar ratio of 3‐nitrobenzyl alcohol to analyte of approximately 20:1. A single peak, located at 1224 Da, was obtained from the bacterial spores. The washing liquid and extract solution from the spores were analyzed using electrospray mass spectrometry and subsequent MS/MS product ion experiments. This independent analysis suggests that the measured species represents part of the B. subtilis peptidoglycan. The on‐line addition of matrix allows quasi‐real‐time chemical analysis of individual, aerodynamically sized particles, with an overall system residence time of less than 5 seconds. These results suggest that a MALDI‐ATOFMS can provide nearly real‐time identification of biological aerosols. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.