Mass Spectrometry Technology Platforms

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technology with strong specificity, high sensitivity, high throughput and low detection cost that provides qualitative and quantitative analytical data for analytes ranging from nanomolar to atomic molar amounts. In MS analysis, the molecules of interest are vaporized and ionized, and the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios of molecular ions are determined. When these gas-phase ions are broken into characteristic fragments, the measured fragment masses provide information about the molecular structure of the original ions ^[1]. MS has been used for the characterization of small molecules for nearly a century. Due to the need to identify, characterize and quantify larger biopolymers, such as proteins, in increasingly complex samples, various new mass spectrometry-based analytical platforms and experimental strategies have also emerged.

As a professional testing and analysis organization, Alfa Chemistry has an experienced technical team that employs an advanced technology platform to meet the full range of our clients' mass spectrometry needs. Our technology platform can provide you with a variety of services.

Our Technology Platforms

Coupling a mass spectrometer to a gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (LC) system; that is, the separation of the sample is achieved by chromatography, and the separated compounds enter the mass spectrometer in turn for ionization, separation, and detection of the generated ions ^[2].

By linking the chromatography system to the mass spectrometer in this way, two pieces of information are generated for each analysis: the retention time and mass spectral information of each separated compound, both of which can be used to compare with the appropriate reference standard ^[2].

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

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Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)

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The introduction of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) that involves multiple stages of mass spectrometry with fragmentation of precursor ions (MS1) to highly specific fragment ions (MS2) has led to significant improvements in the rate and reproducibility of analyte identification and quantification ^[3]. Tandem mass spectrometry, especially in combination with liquid chromatography (LC-MS/MS), has become an indispensable part of modern analytical tools.

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

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References

1. Romanova, E. V.; et al. Mass spectrometry of proteins. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. 2017.
2. Smith, R. W. Mass spectrometry. Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. 2013: 603-608.
3. Cotter, D. R.; et al. Proteomics for diagnostic and therapeutic blood biomarker discovery in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Personalized Psychiatry. 2020: 307-317.

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