A universal nanochip for mass spectrometry analysis and preparing method and application of the same, relates to a technical field of mass spectrometry analysis. A main material of the nanochip is a silicon-based semiconductor material, array-type spotting wells are distributed at a surface of the main material, and an inner surface of the spotting well is of a nanostructure; the surface of the main material has a regional hydrophobic modification, and inside the array-type spotting well is a hydrophilic region and outside the spotting well is a hydrophobic region; or outside the array-type spotting well is a hydrophilic region and inside the spotting well is a hydrophobic region. The nanostructure can extract molecules on a surface of a biological tissue sample to be tested, and improves laser energy absorption and utilization, thereby improving ionization efficiency and enhancing mass spectrum signals. The universal nanochip can be widely applied to clinical inspection.

Exemplary embodiments may deploy a valve that introduces a sample of a calibrant coaxially with flow exiting a source of a mobile phase flow, such as a liquid chromatography (LC) column, on a path to an ion source for the mass spectrometer (MS). The valve may be positioned remotely on a branch that has a junction with the path leading form the source of the mobile phase flow to the ion source. Alternatively, the valve may be positioned in line on the flow path from the source of the mobile phase flow to the ion source of the MS. A novel five port valve design may be employed. With this valve design, a first position of the valve allows a sample loop for the calibrant to be filled. In a second position, the calibrant is added coaxially to the flow from the source of the mobile phase to the MS. In a third position of the valve, diversion of or infusion to a post-source flow is enabled.

An elemental mass spectrometer uses a mass filter to select ions from ions received from an ion source and transmit the selected ions. A reaction or collision cell receives the transmitted ions and reacts or collides these with a gas to provide product ions thereby. A mass analyzer receives the product ions, analyzes them and provides at least one output based on detection of the analyzed ions. The elemental mass spectrometer is operated to provide a first output from the mass analyzer measuring ions within a first analysis range of mass-to-charge to provide a second output from the mass analyzer measuring ions within a second analysis range of mass-to-charge ratios and to correct the first output for interference on the basis of the second output.

A targeted quantitation system for mass spectrometry may acquire, while operating in a watch mode, a watch mode mass spectrum including mass peaks for ions produced from a plurality of internal standard variants added to a sample comprising a target analyte. Each internal standard variant included in the plurality of internal standard variants includes a unique isotopologue of the target analyte and is added to the sample in a unique amount. The targeted quantitation system may generate a calibration curve based on the watch mode mass spectrum. The targeted quantitation system may acquire, while operating in a quantitation mode, a quantitation mode mass spectrum including mass peaks for ions produced from the target analyte included in the sample. The targeted quantitation system may determine a concentration of the target analyte included in the sample based on the calibration curve and the second mass spectrum.

This disclosure relates to reagents and their use for elemental imaging mass spectrometry of biological samples.

A CDMS may include an ELIT having a charge detection cylinder (CD), a charge generator for generating a high frequency charge (HFC), a charge sensitive preamplifier (CP) having an input coupled to the CD and an output configured to produce a charge detection signal (CHD) in response to a charge induced on the CD, and a processor configured to (a) control the charge generator to induce an HFC on the CD, (b) control operation of the ELIT to cause a trapped ion to oscillate back and forth through the CD each time inducing a charge thereon, and (c) process CHD to (i) determine a gain factor as a function of the HFC induced on the CD, and (ii) modify a magnitude of the portion of CHD resulting from the charge induced on the CD by the trapped ion passing therethrough as a function of the gain factor.

The invention relates to a method to evaluate mass spectrometry data for the analysis of peptides from biological samples, particularly MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry data, comprising the following steps: a) provide expected mass defects; b) determine measured mass defects, i.e. the mass defects resulting from the mass spectrometry data; c) compare the measured mass defects with the expected mass defects.

A method determines a total velocity average cross-section parameter σ.sub.totν in a relationship of the form Γ.sub.loss(U)=n.sub.bσ.sub.totν.Math.ƒ(U, U.sub.d), where: Γ.sub.loss(U) is a rate of exponential loss of sensor atoms from a cold atom sensor trap of trap depth potential energy U in a vacuum environment due to collisions with residual particles in the vacuum environment; n.sub.b is a number density of residual particles in the vacuum environment; U.sub.d is a parameter given by $U_d=\sqrt{2k_{B}T/m_{\mathrm{bg}}}\frac{4\pi {\hslash }^2}{m_t.Math.{\sigma }_{\mathrm{tot}}v.Math.}$
which relates the masses of the sensor atoms m.sub.t and residual particles m.sub.bg to the total velocity average cross-section parameter

Provided are synthetic dendrimer calibrants for mass spectrometry. The calibrants are distinguished by their relative case and rapidity of synthesis, comparatively low cost, long shelf life, high purity, and amenability to batch synthesis as mixtures. The latter characteristic enables parallel preparation of higher molecular weight compounds displaying useful distributions of discrete molecular weights, thereby providing multi-point mass spectrometry calibration standards. Methods of making, tuning and using said calibrants are provided.

A method of calibrating and/or tuning a mass spectrometer includes the steps of: (i) providing a sample; (ii) producing ions from a surface of the sample by means of an ion-producing method, and (iii) using said ions to calibrate a mass spectrometer, tune a mass spectrometer or a combination thereof, wherein the ion producing method is desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI). A vacuum-deposited PLA glass slide can also be used as a calibration/tuning sample for any ion-producing method, e.g. DESI, MALDI or SIMS.