Issue 22, 2014

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using ordered silicon nanopillar arrays

Abstract

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) is ideally suited for the high-throughput analysis of small molecules in bodily fluids (e.g. saliva, urine, and blood plasma). A key application for this technique is the testing of drug consumption in the context of workplace, roadside, athlete sports and anti-addictive drug compliance. Here, we show that vertically-aligned ordered silicon nanopillar (SiNP) arrays fabricated using nanosphere lithography followed by metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) are suitable substrates for the SALDI-MS detection of methadone and small peptides. Porosity, length and diameter are fabrication parameters that we have explored here in order to optimize analytical performance. We demonstrate the quantitative analysis of methadone in MilliQ water down to 32 ng mL−1. Finally, the capability of SiNP arrays to facilitate the detection of methadone in clinical samples is also demonstrated.

Graphical abstract: Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using ordered silicon nanopillar arrays

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 Jul 2014
Accepted
22 Sep 2014
First published
22 Sep 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Analyst, 2014,139, 5999-6009

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using ordered silicon nanopillar arrays

H. Z. Alhmoud, T. M. Guinan, R. Elnathan, H. Kobus and N. H. Voelcker, Analyst, 2014, 139, 5999 DOI: 10.1039/C4AN01391C

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