Xu Songyun, Li Yongfeng, Zou Hanfa, Qiu Jieshan, Guo Zhong, Guo Baochuan
National Chromatographic R & A Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116011, China.
Anal Chem. 2003 Nov 15;75(22):6191-5. doi: 10.1021/ac0345695.
Analysis of low molecular weight compounds with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) has been developed by using carbon nanotubes obtained from coal by arc discharge as the matrix. The carbon nanotube matrix functions as substrate to trap analytes of peptides, organic compounds, and beta-cyclodextrin deposited on its surface. It has been found that carbon nanotubes can transfer energy to the analyte under laser irradiation, which makes analytes well desorbed/ionized, and the interference of intrinsic matrix ions can be eliminated. At the same time, the fragmentation of the analyte can be avoided. A good sensitivity and excellent reproducibility of the spectrum signals are achieved. It is believed that this work not only will open a new field for applications of carbon nanotubes, but also will offer a new technique for high-speed analysis of low molecular weight compounds in areas such as metabolism research and characterization of natural products.
通过使用电弧放电法从煤中获得的碳纳米管作为基质，已开发出利用基质辅助激光解吸/电离飞行时间质谱（MALDI-TOFMS）分析低分子量化合物的方法。碳纳米管基质起到捕获沉积在其表面的肽、有机化合物和β-环糊精等分析物的底物作用。已发现碳纳米管在激光照射下能将能量传递给分析物，这使得分析物能很好地解吸/电离，并且可以消除基质固有离子的干扰。同时，还能避免分析物的碎片化。实现了良好的灵敏度和出色的光谱信号重现性。相信这项工作不仅将为碳纳米管的应用开辟一个新领域，还将为代谢研究和天然产物表征等领域的低分子量化合物高速分析提供一种新技术。
