Modular high-end mass spectrometer for ultra-sensitive quantification and imaging of small organic molecules in cross-health research (MSsmall-XH)

Current high-throughput multi-omics technologies, complemented by revolutionary micro- and nanoscopic imaging tools, offer unique opportunities for holistic research and gaining pathophysiological insights of diseases in both humans and animals. However, the accurate and specific quantification of small organic molecules currently faces two major challenges: 1) the increasing availability of micro-samples of biological origin with increasingly smaller sizes and volumes leads to the increasing need for ultra-sensitive quantification at the sub-pg/g (mL) level; 2) the unmet need for imaging and mapping the spatial distribution of these small molecules in complex biological matrices.

The MSsmall-XH modular and nanoscale ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (Figure 1) possesses these unique features to simultaneously fill both gaps in the multi-omics workflow. More specifically, the MSsmall-XH equipment is composed of the following components: an Acquity® UPLC M-Class nano-LC liquid chromatograph combined with an Xevo® TQ Absolute tandem mass spectrometer with the following modular sources: a NanoFlow ESI (electrospray ionization) source (nLC-nESI-MS/MS module) and a DESI (desorption electrospray ionization source) XS High Performance source (DESI-MS/MS module).

We focus on drugs, toxins and endogenous components, as well as their metabolites and biomarkers. This unique device is currently not available in Belgium and will be embedded as a shared platform within the UGent MSsmall Center of Excellence, founded in 2017 with the ambition to support high quality research in life sciences with advanced equipment and expertise in mass spectrometry. The broad interest in this technology is evidenced by the support of 23 promoters from various faculties of 3 Flemish universities.