‘Squeezing’ Nonvolatile Analyte Ions from Crystals and Droplets to Perform Mass Spectrometry and Implications

Friday, April 29th, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in Hand 2231

Abstract: The beginning of this presentation covers the development and mechanistic aspects of novel ionization processes for use in mass spectrometry (MS) that guided us in a series of discoveries, novel instrumentation, and commercialization. In my view, the apex was the discovery of vacuum matrix-assisted ionization (vMAI) on an intermediate pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) source without the use of a laser, high voltages, or any other added energy. Only exposure of the matrix:analyte to the sub-atmospheric pressure of the mass spectrometer is necessary to initiate ionization of nonvolatile compounds such as proteins. These astonishing findings were initially rejected by three different peer-reviewed journals, with comments such as ‘how can this work?’, ‘where do the charges come from?’, and ‘not analytically useful’. Meanwhile, we, and others have demonstrated exceptional analytical utility without a complete understanding of the underlying mechanism. Our current research is focused on how best to understand, improve, and use these novel ionization processes which convert volatile and nonvolatile compounds from solids or liquids into gas-phase ions for analysis by MS using, e.g., mass-selected fragmentation and ion mobility spectrometry to provide reproducible, accurate, and improved mass and drift time resolution. The presentation concludes with a brief perspective on how these unprecedented processes relate to traditional ionization and their implications for better and easier ways to perform MS by the masses.

Bio: Dr. Trimpin is Professor of Chemistry at WSU and co-founder and CEO of MSTM, LLC (Newark, DE). She received numerous awards including the prestigious American Society for Mass Spectrometry Biemann Medal, NSF CAREER, DuPont Young Professor, Eli Lilly Young Investigator in Analytical Chemistry, Pittsburgh Conference Achievement, and WSU Board of Governors Faculty Recognition Award for outstanding achievements. In 2020 Trimpin was listed as one of the top 2% of scientists in the world of science by Stanford University authors. She holds 10 issued patents and authored about 120 peer-reviewed publications, reviews, book chapters, and a book; one of her inventions has been included in the undergraduate textbook: Harris “Quantitative Chemical Analysis”, 10th Edition.

Hosted by Dr. Chanaka Navarathna