Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
Glycomics-Guided Glycoproteomics Facilitates Comprehensive Profiling of the Glycoproteome in Complex Tumor Microenvironments
Published on: February 7, 2025
Functionalized HgTe nanoparticles promote laser-induced solid phase ionization/dissociation for comprehensive glycan
Indah Primadona1, Yin-Hung Lai2, Rey Y Capangpangan3
1Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan and Molecular Science and Technology Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taiwan and Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. yujuchen@gate.sinica.edu.tw and Research Unit for Clean Technology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Bandung, Indonesia.
This study introduces novel mercury telluride nanoparticles functionalized with DHB for rapid glycan characterization. This method simplifies complex carbohydrate analysis, avoiding chemical pre-derivatization and tandem mass spectrometry.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Glycoconjugates are vital in biological processes but challenging to analyze due to structural diversity and instability.
- Current glycan structural characterization often requires chemical modification and complex instrumentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a single-assay method for complex glycan structural characterization.
- To utilize functionalized nanoparticles as a dual ionization-dissociation element in mass spectrometry.
Main Methods:
- Employing 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid functionalized mercury telluride nanoparticles (HgTe@DHB NPs) in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.
- Investigating nanoparticle physicochemical properties to understand their role in glycan decomposition.
Main Results:
- HgTe@DHB NPs demonstrated superior laser-induced glycan dissociation compared to other materials.
- The method enabled unambiguous determination of glycan composition, sequence, branching, and linkage, including labile sialylated glycans.
- Successful characterization of complex isomeric glycans was achieved without pre-derivatization.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption-ionization method offers a "pseudo-MS/MS" approach for efficient glycan analysis.
- This technique simplifies the analysis of biologically relevant and complex carbohydrates.
- It eliminates the need for chemical pre-derivatization and conventional tandem mass spectrometry.
