Matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has been an indispensable approach in the analysis of biomolecules since its debut in 1980s. The great advantage of this technology is the introduction of organic matrices which absorb the laser energy and induce ionization of targeted molecules. However, the matrice will break up under laser irradiation and generate interference peaks in low molecular-weight region which restricts its application in the detection of small molecules. To overcome this shortcoming, we introduced functioned multiwalled carbon nanotubes as novel matrices in the analysis of small molecules by MALDI-MS. The distinctive properties such as conductivity and thermal stability make it possible to apply the carbon nanotubes as matrices in MALDI-MS technique. On the other hand, the modification of carbon nanotubes can make the matrices easier to disperse in aqueous system and form a homogeneous layer with targeted analytes. In our work, we synthesized polyaniline modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs@PANI) and polydopamine modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs@PDA) via facile in-situ polymerization procedures. The polymer coating on carbon nanotubes greatly improved its water dispersibility. Then the obtained composites were utilized as matrices in MALDI-MS to analyze small biomolecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids and fatty acids. The results proved that the functioned multiwalled carbon nanotubes performed higher sensitivity, higher efficiency and higher signal-to-noise ratio compared with conventional organic matrices and pristine carbon nanotubes, so that it would provide a potential platform for the rapid and high throughput analysis of small biomolecules by MALDI-MS.

Synthesis of functioned multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the application in analysis of small biomolecules by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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