Mass spectrometry is an analytical technology that is nowadays present and indispensable in many aspects of our life – in hospitals, pharma and biotech, food and nutrition, as well as energy and environmental monitoring industry, both in academic and for-profit research centers. To better understand, control and advance these application areas, mass spectrometry provides detailed qualitative and quantitative information on the molecular composition of samples specific for a particular condition, including liquids, e.g. blood, and tissues, e.g. biopsies, for health applications, or crude oils and dissolved organic matter for energy/environmental applications. Improving performance of mass spectrometry is particularly beneficial for these application areas and thus for our society’s overall health and wellbeing. The unbeatable performance leader in molecular analysis of biological and environmental samples are the Fourier transform mass spectrometers (FTMS) based on ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR MS). However, even FT-ICR MS approaches suffer from performance limitations when facing the molecular complexity of samples in modern applications. The primary reasons for these limitations are the space charge effects – strong Coulombic interactions of many ions oscillating in the trapping devices. Applications suffering from space charge affects include those with (i) significant fluctuation of incoming ion currents; (ii) close spacing of molecular mass/charge ratios to be resolved; and (iii) high spectral dynamic range of ion intensities. To address these performance challenges and as a result of the completed ERC Starting Grant, we proposed to use the direct ion cyclotron frequency measurements instead of the space charge-sensitive reduced cyclotron frequency measurements employed currently. Previously, we confirmed the principal feasibility of FT-ICR MS at the cyclotron frequency on both types of commercial FT-ICR MS instruments on the lab level. The aim of this PoC action was to realize the benefits of FT-ICR MS at the cyclotron frequency by developing and seamlessly integrating the laboratory-level innovation into commercial instruments at an industry-grade level to leverage life and environmental sciences applications. The results obtained during the action have confirmed and strengthened our original incentives and will allow us to continue commercialization of our innovation through industrial partnership. Societally, the envisioned scientific achievements in the health/environmental applications in the long run should translate into improved drug and molecular biomarker discovery, early diagnosis and prognosis for preventive and personalized medicine, as well as better environmental monitoring and future fuels development.
