Development of nanospray desorption electrospray ionization with sample imprinting as a tool to characterize microbial and below-ground interfaces
EMSL Project ID
60594
Abstract
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a well-established strategy to observe spatial molecular-level information. However, the vacuum associated with many imaging modalities do not allow for the analysis of living systems. Furthermore, many microbial and below-ground samples (particularly in the field) do not lend themselves to conventional MSI sample preparation protocols without removing or destroying the sample itself. To address this, we propose to develop a sample imprinting strategy to complement nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) for MSI analysis of microbial and below-ground interfaces. Sample imprinting is minimally invasive, non-destructive, and compatible with field-deployed systems, whereas nano-DESI features ambient, high spatial resolution, and soft ionization capabilities that are compatible with EMSL’s 21T FTICR-MS. Such a strategy may provide spatial metabolomic information to EMSL user proposals studying microbial or below-ground interfaces. Upon completion of this work, we plan to seek further funds to develop passive sampling, remote devices which can be brought back to EMSL for analysis using the nano-DESI capabilities we developed here.
Project Details
Start Date
2022-10-05
End Date
2023-09-01
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members