Mesoporous organosilica films for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

• Published in: Microporous and mesoporous materials Vol. 268; pp. 125 - 130
• Main Authors: Goto, Yasutomo, Mizoshita, Norihiro, Yamada, Yuri, Maegawa, Yoshifumi, Amano, Junko, Inagaki, Shinji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 15.09.2018
• Subjects: Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry; Mesoporous organosilica; Peptide analytes; Surface open pores; Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry; Surface open pores; Mesoporous organosilica; Peptide analytes
• ISSN: 1387-1811; 1873-3093
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2018.04.014

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful analytical tool that can detect and identify multiple kinds of compounds such as biomolecules with high sensitivity. Recently, various nanoporous solid substrates have been developed for organic-matrix-free laser desorption/ionization (LDI) of analytes. In this study, periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) films are demonstrated for the first time to be promising as solid substrates for LDI mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). UV-absorbing PMO thin films having surface open pores with diameters of 20–30 nm are prepared using a triphenylamine derivative as a precursor and an amphiphilic block copolymer as a structure-directing template, followed by nanoscale surface etching. Peptide analytes introduced into the mesopores can be efficiently detected on the order of sub-picomole without the addition of an organic matrix. In addition, the PMO film shows an advantage of superior shot-to-shot reproducibility compared to a conventional matrix-assisted LDI (MALDI) method on a simple and easy way. PMO films with high tunability of framework composition and functionality may pave the way to new solid substrates for LDI-MS. [Display omitted] •UV-absorbing mesoporous films are made from a 100% organosilane precursor.•The films function as a substrate for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.•Highly porous surface of the films enhances the signal intensity.•Peptide analytes can be detected on the order of sub-picomole.