Capillary-based multi nanoelectrospray emitters: improvements in ion transmission efficiency and implementation with capillary reversed-phase LC-ESI-MS

Anal Chem. 2008 Jan 1;80(1):143-9. doi: 10.1021/ac701647s. Epub 2007 Nov 29.

Abstract

We describe the coupling of liquid chromatography (LC) separations with mass spectrometry (MS) using nanoelectrospray ionization (nano-ESI) multiemitters. The array of 19 emitters reduced the flow rate delivered to each emitter, allowing the enhanced sensitivity that is characteristic of nano-ESI to be extended to higher flow rate separations. The signal for tryptic fragments from proteins spiked into a human plasma sample increased 11-fold on average when the multiemitters were employed, due to increased ionization efficiency and improved ion transfer efficiency through a newly designed heated multicapillary MS inlet. Additionally, the LC peak signal-to-noise ratio increased approximately 7-fold when the multiemitter configuration was used. The low dead volume of the emitter arrays preserved peak shape and resolution for robust capillary LC separations using total flow rates of 2 microL/min.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Angiotensins / analysis
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Humans
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / instrumentation
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*

Substances

  • Angiotensins
  • Ions
  • Peptides