Parallel Pseudo-MRM on the "brick" miniature mass spectrometer for high throughput multi-target screening.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Mass Spectrometry
• Instrumentation

Background:

• Miniature mass spectrometers are increasingly used in various applications, requiring high-throughput multi-target analysis capabilities.
• Traditional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) is performed on triple quadrupole (QQQ) instruments, while pseudo-MRM on ion traps has limitations in throughput due to tandem-in-time operation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the performance of miniature mass spectrometers for in-situ applications.
• To develop a parallel pseudo-multiple reaction monitoring (pseudo-MRM) mode to increase throughput for multi-target screening.

Main Methods:

• Developed a parallel pseudo-MRM mode for a miniature mass spectrometer with an ion trap.
• Segmented the mass range of interest based on optimized Mathieu q values to improve isolation and collision-induced dissociation (CID) efficiencies.
• Demonstrated fast screening of 10 different drugs and verified parallel quantitative analysis using internal standards.

Main Results:

• The parallel pseudo-MRM mode increased throughput by up to 10 times compared to previous methods.
• Achieved efficient isolation and CID for targeted ions within segmented mass ranges.
• Successfully demonstrated rapid drug screening and validated quantitative analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed parallel pseudo-MRM mode significantly enhances the throughput of miniature mass spectrometers for multi-target analysis.
• This advancement is crucial for in-situ applications requiring rapid screening and quantification.
• The method shows promise for applications such as drug testing and environmental monitoring.