MALDI-TOF Instrument
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization or MALDI is a soft ionization technique which is used in mass spectrometry. As biomolecules like biopolymers including proteins, peptides, sugars etc. and large organic molecules like polymers, dendrimers and other macromolecules tend to be fragile and fragment when using traditional ionization methods, the MALDI-TOF analysis has been recognized as more convenient and accepted ionization method nowadays. The Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer (TOF mass spectrometer) is the most extensively used
mass spectrometer for MALDI-TOF analysis.
MALDI-TOF Instrument: Time-of-Flight (TOF) Mass Spectrometer
The TOF mass spectrometer is preferred for MALDI-TOF analysis mainly because of its large mass range. It is also ideal for MALDI ionization process as the pulsed laser takes individual 'shots' instead of working in continuous operation. Mass spectrometers usually couple three devices- an ionisation device, a mass analyzer, and a detector. MALDI-TOF instruments are equipped with an "ion mirror"- deflecting ions with an electric field. This doubles the ion flight path and increases the resolution. Present day TOF instrument manufacturers make such commercial TOF instruments that are capable of reaching a resolving power m/Δm of above 20'000 FWHM (full-width half-maximum, Δm defined as the peak width at 50% of peak height). MALDI is coupled with IMS-TOF MS to identify phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated peptides. MALDI-FT-ICR MS are taken to be a useful technique where high resolution MALDI-MS measurements are required.
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is used to separate and detect molecules by the intrinsic physical property of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z), which produces a molecular fingerprint. The combination of solid phase affinity methods with direct analysis by MALDI-TOF MS - or the affinity mass spectrometry- has increased the speed and scope of this technology.
MALDI-TOF Instrument Manufacturers & Suppliers
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Applications of MALDI-TOF Instrument
MALDI-TOF technology has many applications ranging from production to research applications. MALDI-TOF instruments are quite expensive and their prices depend on performance. For example, Proteomics need the highest level of performance while routine pharmaceutical analysis can be done with the help of spectrometers even with lower level of specification. Most of the MALDI-TOF instrument manufacturers make products that are appropriate for the routine analysis of large molecules in pharmaceutical and clinical trials as well as for biotechnology development. Thus, MALDI-TOF instrument has become a very important
biotechnology lab equipment as well. Some of the applications of MALDI-TOF include the following.
Applications of MALDI-TOF in Biochemistry
In proteomics, MALDI is used for identifying proteins isolated through gel electrophoresis. One of the technique used include peptide mass fingerprinting by MALDI-MS, or with post ionization decay or collision-induced dissociation.
Applications of MALDI-TOF in Organic Chemistry
MALDI is applied by chemists as the most simple and rapid analytical method for analyzing the results of syntheses involving synthetic macromolecules like catenanes and rotaxanes, dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers and also to verify their results.
Applications of MALDI-TOF in Microbiology
MALDI-TOF spectra are applied in microbiology for identifying such microorganisms as bacteria or fungi. The generated mass spectra are analyzed with the help of dedicated software and are compared with stored profiles. MALDI-TOF instruments are thus very helpful in microbiology too as the species diagnosis by this procedure is faster, more accurate and cheaper than other procedures based on immunological or biochemical tests.
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