Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025
07:53
Analysis of Complex Molecules and Their Reactions on Surfaces by Means of Cluster-Induced Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 1, 2020
7.7K
Soft cluster-induced desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: How soft is soft?
André Portz1, Karolin Bomhardt1, Marcus Rohnke2
1Institut für Angewandte Physik and Zentrum für Materialforschung, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 16, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Biointerphases
|March 14, 2020
Summary
Desorption/ionization induced by neutral clusters (DINeC) offers ultrasoft analysis for fragile biomolecules. DINeC-MS provides mass spectra with minimal fragmentation, comparable to electrospray ionization.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Fragile biomolecules require gentle desorption and ionization techniques for mass spectrometry analysis.
- Existing methods like electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) have limitations in preserving molecular integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate desorption/ionization induced by neutral clusters (DINeC) as an ultrasoft desorption/ionization method.
- To compare DINeC-MS performance with established techniques for analyzing fragile biomolecules.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the glycopeptide vancomycin using DINeC-MS.
- Comparison of mass spectra obtained from DINeC-MS with those from electrospray ionization (ESI), MALDI, and time-of-flight secondary ion MS.
- Application of DINeC-MS to teicoplanin for further assessment of its soft desorption capabilities.
Main Results:
- DINeC-MS spectra exhibited the lowest abundance of fragments among the desorption-based techniques evaluated.
- The fragmentation pattern in DINeC spectra was comparable to that of electrospray ionization (ESI).
- The soft desorption characteristics of DINeC were confirmed through the analysis of teicoplanin.
Conclusions:
- DINeC is a highly effective ultrasoft desorption/ionization technique for mass spectrometry analysis of fragile biomolecules.
- DINeC-MS offers a valuable alternative for analyzing delicate compounds, minimizing fragmentation and preserving molecular structure.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Mass Spectrum: Interpretation
2.5K
An unknown compound can be established by identifying the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak is often weak or absent due to the predominance of fragmentation in high-energy electron beams. In such cases, a soft-energy electron beam can be used to scan the spectrum to enhance the intensity of the molecular ion peak. Additionally, chemical ionization, field ionization, and desorption ionization spectra are used to obtain a relatively intense molecular ion peak.To...
2.5K
01:12Electrospray Ionization (ESI) Mass Spectrometry
1.9K
Higher molecular weight biomolecules are nonvolatile compounds that may decompose before ionizing or vaporizing during mass analysis with conventional electron impact ionization methods. Accordingly, electrospray ionization (ESI) is the favored method for vaporizing and ionizing biomolecules as it circumvents rapid fragmentation and enables the recording of mass signals for the entire biomolecule.
ESI utilizes electrical energy to transfer ions from the liquid phase of the sample into the...
ESI utilizes electrical energy to transfer ions from the liquid phase of the sample into the...
1.9K
01:19MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry
6.3K
Mass spectrometry is a powerful characterization technique that can identify and separate a wide variety of compounds ranging from chemical to biological entities, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The instruments that allow this detection, known as mass spectrometers, have three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. These spectrometers differ based on the nature of their ion source and analyzers.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a commonly...
6.3K
01:21Chemical Ionization (CI) Mass Spectrometry
1.3K
The molecular ion peak of a molecule in the mass spectrum provides vital information for molecular identification. However, conventional electron impact ionization can lead to the rapid dissociation of some molecular ions before they reach the detector. A milder ionization method is required to increase the lifetime of such ionized analyte molecules. Chemical ionization (CI) is a gas-phase protonation reaction useful for mass-analyzing analyte molecules that are easily protonated to yield the...
1.3K
01:19Mass Spectrometry: Overview
8.0K
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to determine the molecular mass and molecular formula of a compound. The basic principle of mass spectrometry is to generate ions from the analyte molecule and measure these ion abundances against their molecular mass. One common type of ionization, known as electron ionization or EI, bombards the analyte molecules in the gas phase with high-energy electron beams. The electron beams displace an electron from the molecule and leave behind a...
8.0K
01:08Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)
862
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a powerful analytical technique used in mass spectrometry. It enables the identification and characterization of various biomolecules, including proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. MALDI is an ionization technique, widely employed in biological and medical research, as well as in fields like pharmacology and biochemistry.The analyte of interest, a biomolecule or a mixture of biomolecules, is mixed with a suitable matrix...
862