Ion trap mass spectrometry of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles

Mass spectra of fluorescently labeled polystyrene nanoparticles have been obtained using a combined technique of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), and a dual quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. The spectrometer is designed in such a way that the first trap serves as a trapping and mass-analyzing device, while the second trap serves to capture and concentrate the ions ejected from the first trap for fluorescence detection. An enhancement in the LIF signal by more than 3 orders of magnitude is achieved with the help of the second trap, making mass/charge (m/z) analysis of the nanoparticles possible. Additional unique features of this mass spectrometer include that frequency scan (0.5-50 kHz) at a constant voltage (200 V), instead of voltage scan at a constant frequency, is implemented to widen the spectral analysis range of the instrument. The implementation has allowed the spectrometer to operate at relatively high buffer gas pressures (50 mTorr), crucial for effective trapping of the nanometer-sized particles generated by MALDI. We present in this report the first mass spectra of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles with a size of 27 nm using this new mass spectrometric approach. The utility of this method in the study of biological macromolecules or particles is demonstrated with dye-labeled IgG.