Abstract We report here on a nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (NP-LDI-TOF MS) for the detection of small molecules. This technique is based on the overcoating of a dried analyte by an array of silver nanoparticles produced by gas aggregation source. This allows for the spatially homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles over the analyte that may fully substitute a conventional organic matrix routinely used for the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and thus limit the possible interference of matrix with the low-mass molecules. Furthermore, it is shown that the intensity of the detected signal strongly correlates with the number of deposited Ag nanoparticles. At its optimum, that was found to correspond to the nanoparticle surface density of 3x103 NPs.µm-2, the detection limit was 3x10-8 g.L-1 for riboflavin. Such a high detection limit, together with good reproducibility, excellent signal stability, and imaging capability, makes this technique a valuable alternative to other laser desorption/ionization-based detection methods.

中文翻译：

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气体聚集的银纳米粒子作为无机基质用于激光解吸/电离质谱

摘要 我们在此报告了用于检测小分子的纳米粒子辅助激光解吸/电离飞行时间质谱 (NP-LDI-TOF MS)。该技术基于由气体聚集源产生的一系列银纳米粒子覆盖干燥的分析物。这允许纳米颗粒在分析物上空间均匀分布，可以完全替代常规用于基质辅助激光解吸/电离质谱的常规有机基质，从而限制基质与低质量分子的可能干扰。此外，还表明检测到的信号强度与沉积的 Ag 纳米粒子的数量密切相关。在其最佳状态下，发现对应于 3x103 NPs.µm-2 的纳米颗粒表面密度，核黄素的检测限为 3x10-8 gL-1。如此高的检测限、良好的重现性、出色的信号稳定性和成像能力，使该技术成为其他基于激光解吸/电离的检测方法的有价值的替代方法。