TY - JOUR A1 - Gabriel, Stefan A1 - Pfeifer, Dietmar A1 - Schwarzinger, C. A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Weidner, Steffen T1 - Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric imaging of synthetic polymer sample spots prepared using ionic liquid matrices T2 - Rapid communications in mass spectrometry N2 - RATIONALE Polymer sample spots for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) prepared by the dried-droplet method often reveal ring formation accompanied by possible segregation of matrix and sample molecules as well as of the polymer homologs itself. Since the majority of sample spots are prepared by this simple and fast method, a matrix or sample preparation method that excludes such segregation has to be found. METHODS Three different ionic liquid matrices based on conventionally used aromatic compounds for MALDI-TOF MS were prepared. The formation of ionic liquids was proven by 1H NMR spectroscopy. MALDI-Imaging mass spectrometry was applied to monitor the homogeneity. RESULTS Our results show a superior sample spot homogeneity using ionic liquid matrices. Spots could be sampled several times without visible differences in the mass spectra. A frequently observed loss of matrix in the mass spectrometer vacuum was not observed. The necessary laser irradiance was reduced, which resulted in less polymer fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS Ionic liquid matrices can be used to overcome segregation, a typical drawback of conventional MALDI dried-droplet preparations. Homogeneous sample spots are easy to prepare, stable in the MS vacuum and, thereby, improve the reproducibility of MALDI. PB - Wiley CY - Chichester PY - 2014 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-bam/frontdoor/index/index/docId/30267 AN - OPUS4-30267 SN - 0951-4198 SN - 1097-0231 VL - 28 IS - 5 SP - 489 EP - 498 AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany