Small Molecules

The MALDI technique has recently garnered attention for its application to small molecule research that is used for drug developments. In small molecule analysis, typically matrix complicates spectral interpretation and interferes with analytes of interest because they occupy the same mass range (< 500 Da). To acquire analyte signals from MALDI, techniques such as matrix suppression and the use of matrix-free substrates such as porous silicon (DIOS) have been applied. Small molecule applications for AP/MALDI are new and a diverse choice of substrates and matrix suppression chemistries are still open to investigation.

Relevant References:

Atmospheric pressure laser desorption/ionization on porous silicon
VV Laiko, NI Taranenko, VD Berkout, BD Musselman, VM Doroshenko
Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2002; 16: 1737-1742.

Feasibility of atmospheric pressure desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry in analysis of drugs
K Huikko, P Ostman, C Sauber, F Mandel, K Grigoras, S Franssila , T Kotiaho, R Kostiainen
Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 2003; 17: 1339-1343.

Small molecule analysis by MALDI mass spectrometry
LH Cohen, AI Gusev
Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2002; 373: 571-586.