Nouvelles sources microfabriquées de nano-ESI optimisées pour l’analyse protéomique

Novel microfabricated nanoESI sources for proteomics applications

USTL, UMR CNRS 8009, IEMN, UMR CNRS 8520

Abstract

This work aims at developing novel nanoESI emitter tips which are compatible with automated analysis and the use of a robotics interface and which allow for enhancing analysis conditions using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry techniques (ESI-MS). Our novel sources borrow much from calligraphy quills in their geometry and functioning principle. The device is planar and relies on a capillary slot that guides fluids to their ionization point. Different series of nib prototypes allowed us to optimize their ionization performances, the first ones being fabricated in the negative photoresist SU-8 and the last ones in silicon-based materials. The successive series of nib emitter tips were tested on an ion trap mass spectrometer using various types of samples, standard peptides, small organic species or digested or entire proteins.