Development of a new ion mobility (quadrupole) time-of-flight mass spectrometer

A new ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) platform was developed to improve upon the sensitivity and reproducibility of our previous platforms, and further enhance IMS-MS utility for broad 'pan-omics' measurements. The new platform incorporated an improved electrospray ionization source and interface for enhanced sensitivity, and providing the basis for further benefits based upon implementation of multiplexed IMS. The ion optics included electrodynamic ion funnels at both the entrance and exit of the IMS, an ion funnel trap for ion injection, and a design in which nearly all ion optics (e.g., drift rings, ion funnels) were fabricated using printed circuit board technology. The IMS resolving power achieved was similar to 73 for singly-charged ions, very close to the predicted diffusion-limited resolving power (similar to 75). The platform's performance evaluation (e.g., for proteomics measurements) include LC-IMS-TOF MS datasets for 30 technical replicates for a trypsin digested human serum, and included platform performance in each dimension (LC, IMS and MS) separately. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.