Analytische Chemie
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The development and improvement of new ionization techniques for mass spectrometry often requires dedicated, specific sampling approaches. Recently, a novel ionization scheme for ambient MS has been introduced based on a quasi-continuous laser-induced plasma, which was ignited directly before the MS inlet. This setup combines the general advantages of ambient ionization, provides electro neutrality, sufficient duty cycle and a ubiquitous plasma medium.
A high repetition rate DPSS laser (Conqueror 3-LAMBDA, Nd:YVO4, 1 - 500 kHz, average output power: 12 W at 50 kHz, Compact Laser Solutions GmbH, Germany) and the corresponding optomechanical system were installed on an optical breadboard above the inlet of a LCQ DecaXP ion trap mass spectrometer. The quasi-continuous airborne plasma was ignited inside the sprayed sample in front of the inlet via focused laser irradiation.
The introduction of liquid samples into laser-induced plasmas requires higher plasma power during solvent evaporation as compared to gaseous samples. This increased demand was approached via a two-fold strategy: Firstly, an alternative, more powerful, laser plasma driven by the fundamental instead of the second harmonic wavelength was implemented, which provided a 10-fold increase of signal intensity, while maintaining the same reagent ion pattern as the previous plasma. Protonated water clusters [(H2O]nH]+, NH4+ as well as charge transfer promoting ion O2+, dominated the reagent ion mass spectrum. Secondly, a miniaturized nebulizer was used to minimize the size of the plasma quenching solvent droplets. The result of these improvements was a new and very stable ion source for direct microfluidic coupling. A variety of samples demonstrated the performance of the ion source.
A laser-driven plasma was shown to be a powerful ion source for gaseous and solid samples. For the first time, liquid samples were examined using the novel source. In addition to demonstrating an improved strategy for igniting the laser plasma, this contribution also covers the miniaturization of the spray source for enhanced ionization, while minimizing sample consumption via a microfluidic spray systems.
Immunoassays, based on the recognition and capture of analytes by highly selective antibodies, are now used extensively in all areas of diagnostics, but the challenge is to further integrate them into online sensors. To improve the transition from laboratory immunoassays to immunosensors, we have developed a complete flow system, based on a microfluidic core flow cell to enable automated detection of one of the most commonly used immunoassay substrates, TMB, by chronoamperometry. The architecture and fluidic optimisation of the system showed that a specially designed 3D flow cell allows higher flow rates (500 μL min−1) than a standard enlarged microfluidic channel (50 μL min−1) resulting in a significantly shorter detection time of 30 seconds per sample and making the system more robust against interferences due to bubble formation in the chip. The electrochemical measurements showed an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and thus higher sensitivity for a model immunoassay for diclofenac (SNR = 59), compared to the analytical performance of a conventional laboratory microplate-based assay with optical detection (SNR = 19). In general, this system facilitates the conversion of any conventional immunoassay into an immunosensor with automatic and continuous detection.