Exploring the Applications of Picodroplet Mass Spectrometry

Descripción del proyecto

Una técnica innovadora hace que la espectroscopia de masas sea eficaz, rentable y ahorre muestras

La espectrometría de masas es una herramienta analítica muy utilizada en sectores como el de la biotecnología, la farmacéutica y el análisis medioambiental. Sin embargo, un inconveniente importante es su naturaleza destructiva, que provoca la pérdida permanente de las muestras, lo que la hace menos adecuada para analizar muestras caras o raras. El equipo del proyecto PICODROP-MS, financiado por el CEI, fue pionero en una nueva tecnología de espectrometría de masas que utiliza gotas de picolitros para reducir sustancialmente el consumo de muestras en más de cuatro mil veces. Con esta innovación se mejora la rentabilidad y la productividad ya que ofrece más de un 99,9 % de ahorro en los costes de las muestras y una reducción significativa del tiempo del personal. Al ser respetuoso con el medio ambiente, permite analizar muestras escasas antes inviables, lo que aceleraría el descubrimiento de fármacos y reportaría beneficios para la salud. El objetivo es establecer este método como el preferido en la espectrometría de masas.

Objetivo

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a widely applied analytical tool underpinning important commercial sectors like biotechnology, pharmaceutics, and environmental analysis. A significant drawback is that the analysis is destructive, resulting in irretrievable sample loss and making MS nonideal when sample is expensive or scarce. We pioneered a technology capable of reducing the amount of sample consumed during MS by >4000 times compared to the existing state-of-the-art by using picolitre (10^-12 L) droplets. Because these sample volumes are so small, our technology will significantly accelerate otherwise time-consuming preparative chemistry, benefitting end users in the above-mentioned sectors. Anticipated commercial benefits include improved cost-effectiveness and increased productivity gains arising from >99.9% cost savings on samples and substantial cost savings on staff time. The commercial adoption of our technology will lead to new services and increased sales by enabling analysis of samples too scarce for current technologies. The considerable reduction in sample consumption will provide environmental benefits, and the capability to accelerate e.g. the drug discovery process may yield health benefits. Consequently, our picodroplet MS technology has the potential to become the method of choice for a diverse range of MS end users. To achieve these envisioned impacts, we will develop relationships with key industrial stakeholders in the analytical instrumentation sector and, building on our recent patent application, advance our IPR strategy by evaluating market and licensee requirements. We will engage directly with leading MS end users to quantify the benefits of our technology in the important application areas of reaction discovery, biomolecular analysis, and environmental sampling. This PoC will facilitate comprehensive evaluation of our technology’s strengths relative to competitors and maximise its commercial potential.