A high pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption ion source for Fourier transform mass spectrometry designed to accommodate large targets with diverse surfaces.

A new design for a high pressure MALDI-FTMS instrument is described and initial data are shown. The instrument incorporates a large, 10 cm x 10 cm, sample translation stage to accommodate and position the MALDI target. The new instrument allows coupling to a wide variety of surface techniques such as gel electrophoresis or surface plasmon resonance. Coupling to thin layer chromatography is shown. Furthermore, a new nozzle design allows high pressure collisional cooling sufficient to stabilize gangliosides while minimizing the gas load on the system.