Multi-Channel Nanoelectrospray Emitters (MCN Emitter™)

Since its introduction, electrospray ionization (ESI) has become the preferred method for coupling liquid separation techniques to mass spectrometry for the analysis of biomolecules. Over the last fifteen years, the thrust in proteomics (with its needs for increased sensitivity, enhanced resolution and high throughput) has generated a tremendous amount of interest in ESI-MS. The development of low flow ESI (flow rates < 100 nL/min), also known as nano-ESI further increased the utility of ESI by significantly improving sensitivity. The continuous drive to reduce flow rates has largely been due to the characteristic advantages consistent with the formation of smaller droplets. When compared to ESI, the smaller droplet sizes associated with nano-ESI possess higher surface area to volume ratios. This in turn results in improved desolvation, enhanced ion production and minimal ion suppression and matrix effects.

Essential to the performance of nano-ESI is a small emitter orifice through which the fluidic sample is electrosprayed into the MS. The emitter plays a pivotal role in the nano-ESI process as the sensitivity, stability and reproducibility of nano-ESI are all highly dependent on emitter characteristics. Currently, pulled-glass capillaries are widely employed to improve electrospray performance at nL/min flow rates. While effective for stabilizing low flow rates, pulled-tip emitters possess several technical limitations which include susceptibility to clogging, limited range of possible flow rates, and poor tip to tip reproducibility.

Researchers at Queen’s University have recently developed a novel multi-channel nanoelectrospray emitter ( MCN Emitter^TM) which uses a microstructured silica fiber as a “shower head” to split the fluidic flow thereby enhancing sensitivity and increasing emitter robustness. These novel emitters which are easily fabricated and possess numerous advantages when compared to state-of-the-art tapered emitters. Importantly, accessing these advantages does not require modification to existing mass spectrometry (MS) interfaces and configurations.

• Enhanced Sensitivity
• Increased Emitter Robustness
• Easily fabricated
• Resistant to clogging
• No physical modification to MS is needed

• Mass spectrometry

The product is available for purchase through Flintbox.