In order to request the analysis of a sample by MALDI-TOF, you must contact the staff responsible for the equipment.

You will need to give the toxicity and any storage precautions. Once the report has been delivered, if you do not collect the sample within one week, any remaining sample will be destroyed.

MALDI mass spectrometers generate ions in the gas phase by laser-induced vaporisation of a solid mixture of sample and matrix in which the latter acts as an acceptor of laser energy that transmits it to the sample, producing sublimation of matrix and sample ions.The ions are accelerated in an electric field and then penetrate a free flight tube.For a certain acceleration voltage, the time of flight (TOF) of the ion upon reaching the detector is proportional to its mass/charge ratio (m/z).Both parts of this instrument operate under high vacuum conditions.By slightly increasing the laser power, a considerable fragmentation of the analyte occurs and the ions evolve in the region of free travel, this process is called PSD.The mass resolution is improved by incorporating a reflector at the end of the flight zone that deflects the trajectory of the ions until they find a second detector with which structural information of the original molecule is obtained.
 

1. General outline of operation
2. Sample plate
3. Flight tube

Due to its characteristics, the equipment is dedicated to the analysis of biomolecules (drugs, metabolites, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides, peptides and proteins).Regarding proteins, MALDI-TOF can provide structural information at the molecular mass scale, peptide map and primary structure, sequences and subsequent modifications.

Mass spectrum of a mixture of peptides

• Determination of the molecular weight of the intact protein.
• Determination of the molecular ion in molecules of small mass.
• Peptide mapping (PMF) and protein identification of biological samples (clinical, food, microbial cultures, plants, etc.)through MACOT, as a search algorithm.
• Identification of polypeptides.
• Analyses of macromolecules, polymers, drugs, metabolites.
• Identification of microorganisms by "Biotyper".
• Direct analyses on TLC plates.

The acquisition of this equipment has been co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).