Multimodal mass spectrometry for the characterization of nanoparticles

• Subject Area: Basic Research in Biology and Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 495915297

A multifunctional mass spectrometer (MS) will be used to characterize colloidal nanoparticles and their interaction with biological matter, in particular the formation of a protein corona and their uptake by cells. The required mass spectrometry imaging instrument primarily will have HRESI MS and MALDI MS in spectral mode and MALDI MS and DESI-MS in imaging mode, together with an advanced IMS facility. With this instrument, the atomically precise composition of metal clusters in the presence of ligands on the surface of nanoparticles in general will be investigated. Types proteins adsorbed to the surface of nanoparticles will be quantified. Images of different parts of nanoparticles after their internalization by cells will be made, which will allow, for example, analysis of intracellular degradation of nanoparticles.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Massenspektrometer zur Charakterisierung von Nanopartikeln
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Parak