Detection of Small Neutral Carbohydrates Using Various Supporting Materials in Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A comprehensive comparative investigation of small carbohydrates in laser desorption ionization was performed oil supporting materials composed of sodiated 2,5-hydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), carbon nanotubes, all ionic liquid matrix of DHB-pyridine, a binary matrix of DHB-aminopyrazine, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and gold nanoparticles. The abundance of [M+Na](+) ions, where M is glucose Or Sucrose, was compared for each supporting material. The highest sensitivity for both glucose and Sucrose, with a detection limit of 3 pmol, was observed with carbon nanotubes. Both carbon nanotubes and the ionic liquid matrix exhibited the highest reproducibility.