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New results on matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of widely polydisperse hydrosoluble polymers
Author(s) -
Malvagna Paola,
Impallomeni Giuseppe,
Cozzolino Rosaria,
Spina Emanuela,
Garozzo Domenico
Publication year - 2002
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/rcm.760
Subject(s) - dispersity , chemistry , molar mass , polymer , desorption , molar mass distribution , matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization , mass spectrometry , polyvinylpyrrolidone , analytical chemistry (journal) , mass spectrum , matrix (chemical analysis) , yield (engineering) , sample preparation , ionization , chromatography , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , adsorption , materials science , ion , composite material
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of molecular weight (M w ) 40 000 and 160 000 and polydispersity of 1.8–2.2 was shown to yield matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectra with the correct molar mass distribution of the polymer. This is a unique behavior among widely polydisperse samples and was ascribed to the capacity of PVP to complex the MALDI matrix. This result prompted us to test a new sample preparation technique consisting of flash‐freezing followed by freeze‐drying of the solution of the polymer with the matrix. In this paper we describe our preliminary results on MALDI‐MS of polydisperse polymers obtained by this technique. This sample preparation method allowed us to obtain, for the first time, spectra yielding the true molecular weight distribution of polydisperse samples such as dextran, lichenan, nigeran, and poly(ethylene oxide). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.