Critical factors determining the quantification capability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization- time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Quantitative analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) is important but challenging. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) coupled with time-of-flight (TOF) MS offers superior sensitivity, resolution and speed, but such techniques have numerous disadvantages that hinder quantitative analyses. This review summarizes essential obstacles to analyte quantification with MALDI-TOF MS, including the complex ionization mechanism of MALDI, sensitive characteristics of the applied electric fields and the mass-dependent detection efficiency of ion detectors. General quantitative ionization and desorption interpretations of ion production are described. Important instrument parameters and available methods of MALDI-TOF MS used for quantitative analysis are also reviewed.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantitative mass spectrometry'.
['Wang|Chia-Chen|CC|', 'Lai|Yin-Hung|YH|', 'Ou|Yu-Meng|YM|', 'Chang|Huan-Tsung|HT|', 'Wang|Yi-Sheng|YS|']
ionization mechanism detection efficiency instrument parameters ion optics photoreaction timing characteristic