2010 R&D 100 Winner
The Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probe for Mass Spectrometry, developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., enables the analysis of materials outside a vacuum, under real-world conditions, without pretreatment. A liquid microjunction is created between the probe and surface using an extraction solvent. Then the sample solution containing the extracted analyte is aspirated into the probe for mass spectrometric analysis. The same spot can be analyzed multiple times without disruption.
After extraction, traditional methods can be used for ionization. The probe can be used with any liquid introduction source, and allows for discrete spot sampling and continuous sampling.
The probe can sample dried drugs or proteins from wells on microtiter plates; dyes, inks, and pharmaceuticals separated on thin-layer chromatography plates; pharmaceuticals from MALDI plates; drug excretion via skin; and other applications for biological sciences.
Technology
Surface sampling system for mass spectrometry
Developer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Development Team
The Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probe for Mass Spectrometry Development Team from Oak Ridge National Laboratory:
Gary J. Van Berkel
Vilmos Kertesz
Michael J. Ford
