Vacuum stable MALDI matrices: SiChem receives BMWi grant (ZIM) together with Mannheim University of Applied Sciences

The trend in MALDI analysis today is towards large sample quantities, long scanning times and locally accurate measurement resolution. However, today’s MALDI matrices limit this progress for two reasons:
First, they are not vacuum stable. As a result, the layer thickness changes during the time of a MALDI scan. This results in a loss of sensitivity, a signal drift and thus considerable measurement errors.
Second: Co-crystals with HCCA, 2.5-DHAP or 2.5-DHB usually exceed the size of 10µm, which is why higher resolutions are not possible.

The aim of the project is the development of new vacuum-stable matrices, which form homogeneous co-crystal layer thicknesses over 24h with possible analytes such as peptides, proteins, lipids and active substances.