Structure performance relationships of the novel MALDI-MS matrices

The choice of matrix is a key element in the analysis of biomolecules like proteins, peptides, lipids, carbohydrates etc by MALDI-MS. But the properties of a compound that can act as a matrix are not well-defined. It is imperative to ascertain which physical and chemical properties of a chemical compound are vital for its role as a matrix. The author of this book through his doctoral research work presents a chemical compound library of about 200 cinnamic acid derivatives. Each compound was synthesised and tried as a matrix using 337 nm and 355 nm lasers for detection and analysis of BSA digest and/or Brain Total Lipid Extract (BTLE) in positive and negative ion modes. The book further presents the comparison of the results obtained with these potential matrices and the standard matrices like HCCA, ClCCA, 9-AA and DHB. The book concludes with a multidisciplinary approach and it was shown for the first time for the rational development and selection of matrix, chemical library synthesis, strategies used in medicinal chemistry and multivariate statistics are viable methods to identify important novel principles. Besides providing a class of novel MALDI-MS matrices the results will facilitate the matrix discovery process for analytical chemists. This is a significant step towards a rule based design of MALDI-MS matrix compounds.