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Richard A. Yost
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Professor
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Laser Microprobe Mass Spectrometry
High-Field Asymmetric-Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS)
Other Current Research Projects
We have developed the first laser microprobe tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS) system able to image trace levels of drugs and biomolecules in tissue specimens; that instrument will soon be commercially available. As in most of our research, there are aspects of this research that range from instrumentation development to fundamentals to applications. We are evaluating laser desorption not only under traditional high-vacuum conditions, but also at intermediate pressures (~ 10-1 Torr) and at atmospheric pressure. Applications of this new analytical tool include mass spectrometric imaging of tissue for insight into a variety of biomedical issues, including the chemical basis of nerve damage in diseases such as chronic lactic acidosis (CLA) and the distribution of drug molecules.
Mass spectrometric image of m/z 782 (the [M+Na]+ ion of phosphocholine 16:0 18:1) in a rat brain section with spatial resolution of 120 μm.
We are one of the lead laboratories in the world in the development of high-field asymmetric-waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), also called differential mobility spectrometry (DMS). Current efforts include fundamental studies of ion motion and ion-molecule interactions in high-field ion mobility. FAIMS and FAIMS/MS has great analytical potential in a variety of applications, including clinical, pharmacological, environmental, and forensic analysis. We are exploring FAIMS/MS strategies for clinical analysis, including detection of trace biomarkers in human breath for cystic fibrosis and therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressive drugs used by organ transplant patients. We are also evaluating the capabilities of FAIMS/MS for rapid, sensitive, and selective trace analysis, including detection and identification of bacteria and explosives for homeland security applications and the identification of attractants for mosquitoes and the mapping of these attractants in the field
A variety of other research projects are currently underway in our group in instrumentation development, fundamentals, and applications of analytical mass spectrometry. One project is focused on improvements to quadrupole ion traps, including novel electrode geometries that produce nearly perfect fields and tailored pressure profiles for optimum performance. In another project, we are developing novel polymeric matrices for laser desorption (MALDI) mass spectrometry that incorporate selective chemistry such as aptamers for sensitive detection of biological molecules. We are also developing new mass spectrometric methods for monitoring the effect of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment on animals and humans.
The quadrupole ion trap mass analyzer
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