Optical detection methods for mass spectrometry of macroions

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Abstract
I. Introduction 00 II. Macroion Detection Methods 00 A. Energy‐Sensitive Detection 00 B. Charge‐Sensitive Detection 00 C. Photon‐Sensitive Detection 00 1. ELS 00 2. LIF 00 III Applications to Micron‐Sized and Nano‐Sized Particles 00 A. Ion Sources 00 B. Mass Analyzers 00 C. Detectors 00 1. ELS/Ellipsoidal Reflector 00 2. LIF/Ion Trap 00 IV. Conclusions and Outlook 00 Acknowledgments 00 References 00 Detection of macroions has been a challenge in the field of mass spectrometry. Conventional ionization‐based detectors, relying on production and multiplication of secondary electrons, are restricted to detection for charged particles of m/z < 1 × 106. While both energy‐sensitive and charge‐sensitive detectors have been developed recently to overcome the limitation, they are not yet in common use. Photon‐sensitive detectors are suggested to be an alternative, with which detection of macroions (or charged particles) by either elastic light scattering (ELS) or laser‐induced fluorescence (LIF) has been possible. In this article, we provide a critical review on the developments of novel optical detection methods for mass spectrometry of macroions, including both micron‐sized and nano‐sized synthetic polymers as well as high‐mass biomolecules. Design and development of new spectrometers making possible observations of the mass spectra of macroions with sizes in the range of 10–103 nm or masses in the range of 1–106 MDa are illustrated. The potential and promise of this optical approach toward macroion detection with high efficiency are discussed in practical aspects. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.,Mass Spec Rev

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