Ion mobility mass spectrometer for imaging and coupling with U(H)PLC

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 559384466

A high-resolution imaging ion mobility mass spectrometer is applied for to be used for in-depth pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, pharmacometabolic and epilipidomic research in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Münster. The aim is to determine low-molecular drugs as well as lipids, peptides and endogenous metabolites from biological fluids and tissues. This requires the use of image-based technologies as well as shot-gun analyses and coupling with liquid chromatography. The high sensitivity and high resolution of the mass spectrometric data registration as well as the ion mobility in combination with the high mass accuracy and the flexibility in ionization enable a wide range of research applications. Important for the research groups is the additional separation dimension of the integrated ion mobility spectrometer, which enables more reliable annotation in the untargeted range and separation of isomers; as well as adding an additional separation dimension in imaging, where no prior chromatographic separation is possible. No high-resolution ion mobility mass spectrometer is currently operated at the PharmaCampus of the University of Münster. Laboratory and personnel requirements for operation and maintenance are in place. A user reguation is available. With the requested device, the expertise built up at the department in high-resolution mass spectrometry and the associated imaging will be further advanced, which will benefit current research collaborations/networks and, in particular, future ones.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Ionenmobilitätsmassenspektrometer zur Bildgebung und Kopplung mit der U(H)PLC
• Instrumentation Group: 1720 Spezielle Massenspektrometer (Flugzeit-, Cyclotronresonanz-, Ionensonden, SIMS, außer 306)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Münster
• Leader: Professor Dr. Björn Burckhardt