Secondary Electron Spray Ionization Interface and high resolution mass spectrometer

• Subject Area: Medicine ; Analytical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459447812

Secondary-Electrospray-Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (SESI-MS) enables real time analysis of organic compounds from gaseous samples with sensitivity in the pmol/L range. In contrast to commonly employed technologies (e.g. PTR-MS, SIFT-MS) SESI-MS is also applicable to compounds having molecular masses of several hundred Daltons. Identification of single compounds and complex mixtures is facilitated through the high resolution of the instrument. Based upon the existing expertise in breath research, novel fundamental knowledge will be acquired as chemical compounds can be determined which could not be analyzed up to now. These results will provide unique potential for innovative non-invasive diagnostics and disease monitoring. Ongoing investigations on therapy control and optimization of mechanical ventilation will be continued and enlarged by means of the new instrument. Beyond the already established research activities concerning monitoring of mechanically ventilated patients, numerous cooperation projects will be undertaken:Enlarging our studies in children we will gather enhanced knowledge on metabolic adaptation in chronic kidney disease and on metabolic sequelae of paediatric diabetes. In cooperation with traumatologists and orthopaedics, bone metabolism of postmenopausal women (> 50y) will be assessed by means of non-invasive breath analysis. Adverse effects of joint grafts and their interaction with the organism will be investigated non-invasively within a graduate school. Studies under ergometric challenge will be continued and extended, as new classes of compounds can be assessed. Volatile breath biomarkers can mirror metabolic processes linked to energy production and fuel consumption. In addition, effects of hypoxia may be seen in breath. In this way, efficacy of training can be evaluated non-invasively and risks of hypoxia or ischemia can be recognized in time. Differentiation of stem cells can be monitored by means of headspace analysis in cell cultures. In this context, we need the new instrument to find out whether new classes of chemical compounds (e.g. amino acids) could be used as biomarkers in stem cell monitoring. Viral infections in the upper airways facilitate secondary bacterial infections which may considerably impact onto patients‘ outcome. Pathogenetic aspects concerning influenza virus and important agents of secondary bacterial infections such as S. pneumoniae, S. suis, S. pyogenes and S. aureus will be assessed in vitro and in vivo. In vivo studies will be undertaken in pigs, as they represent the natural „mixing vessel“ of influenza infections. Promising results obtained so far will be expanded through results from new substances.Results from these studies will establish a comprehensive database. From this data valuable and fundamental information on breath biomarkers can be obtained fostering their use for non-invasive and fast diagnosis of various diseases (infection, metabolism) and therapy control.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Secondary Electron Spray Ionization Interface und hochauflösendes Massenspektrometer
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Rostock
• Leader: Professor Dr. Jochen Schubert