Au@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles for laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry

Abstract

In matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), the analysis capability, especially for small molecules, is often compromised by the addition of organic matrices due to the existence of background signals. Herein we report a new detection method on the utility of core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) as energy transfer structure in LDI-TOF-MS. The LDI-TOF-MS based on gold–silica core–shell nanoparticles with ultrathin silica shell of 2–4 nm (Au@utSiO₂ CSNPs) was effectively applied to the analysis of many compounds, especially for small functional molecules and polymers, which was more promising than MALDI-TOF-MS.