Boron nitride nanotubes matrix for signal enhancement in infrared laser desorption postionization mass spectrometry

Publication date: 1 September 2018
Source:Talanta, Volume 187
Author(s): Qiao Lu, Yongjun Hu, Jiaxin Chen, Yujian Li, Wentao Song, Shan Jin, Fuyi Liu, Liusi Sheng
The nanomaterials function as the substrate to trap analytes, absorb energy from the laser irradiation and transfer energy to the analytes to facilitate the laser desorption process. In this work, the signal intensity and reproducibility of analytes with nanomaterials as matrices were explored by laser desorption postionization mass spectrometry (LDPI-MS). Herein, the desorbed neutral species were further ionized by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 118 nm) and analyzed by mass spectrometer. Compared with other nanomaterial matrices such as graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) exhibited much higher desorption efficiency under infrared (IR) light and produced no background signal in the whole mass range by LDPI-MS. Additionally, this method was successfully and firstly exploited to in situ detection and imaging for drugs of low concentration in intact tissues, which proved the utility, facility and convenience of this method applied in drug discovery and biomedical research.

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