High-Throughput Fingerprinting of Rhizobial Free Fatty Acids by Chemical Thin-Film Deposition and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Thin Films of Lanthanide Stearates as Modifiers of the Q-Sense Device Sensor for Studying Insulin Adsorption

This article presents new possibilities of using thin films of lanthanide stearates as sorbent materials. Modification of the Q-sense device resonator with monolayers of lanthanide stearates by the Langmuir-Schaeffer method made it possible to study the process of insulin protein adsorption on the surface of new thin-film sorbents. The resulting films were also characterized by compression isotherms, chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. The transition of stearic acid to salt was recorded by IR spectroscopy. Using the LDI MS method, the main component of thin films, lanthanide distearate, was established. The presence of Eu²⁺ in thin films was revealed. In the case of europium stearate, the maximum value of insulin adsorption was obtained, -1.67·10^-10 mole/cm². The findings suggest the possibility of using thin films of lanthanide stearates as a sorption material for the proteomics determination of the quantitative protein content in complex fluid systems by specific adsorption on modified surfaces and isolation of such proteins from complex mixtures.

Mass spectrometry-based lipid analysis and imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a powerful tool for in situ mapping of analytes across a sample. With growing interest in lipid biochemistry, the ability to perform such mapping without antibodies has opened many opportunities for MSI and lipid analysis. Herein, we discuss the basics of MSI with particular emphasis on MALDI mass spectrometry and lipid analysis. A discussion of critical advancements as well as protocol details are provided to the reader. In addition, strategies for improving the detection of lipids, as well as applications in biomedical research, are presented.