Sample preparation plate for mass spectrometry

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a sample preparation plate used to prepare a sample for mass spectrometry. In particular, a sample plate used to concentrate a sample as well as remove contaminants from the sample while providing easy manipulation of small liquid droplets on a surface with minimal sample loss.

1 . A sample surface for mass spectrometry analysis, comprising a platform, wherein said platform has a substrate, and one or more wells, and wherein each well has a surrounding hydrophobic region with a hydrophilic central region.  
   
   
       2 . The sample plate of  claim 1 , wherein said surrounding hydrophobic region is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of Teflon®, poly(dimethylsiloxane), and alike.  
   
   
       3 . The sample plate of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrophilic basal region is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, and alike.  
   
   
       4 . The sample plate of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is comprised of a material selected from but not limited to the group consisting of plastic, PTFE, Teflon, polyproylene, plastic, stainless steel, aluminum, glass, silicon and the like.  
   
   
       5 . A method of preparing a sample for mass spectrometric analysis, comprising: 
 (a) providing a sample plate, comprising a platform, wherein said platform has a substrate, and one or more wells, and wherein each well has a surrounding hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic basal central region.    (b) applying a liquid sample material to a well within said sample plate; and    (c) drying said sample such that residual sample material is concentrated within said well.    
   
   
       6 . The sample plate of  claim 5 , wherein said hydrophobic region is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of Teflon®, poly(dimethylsiloxane), and alike.  
   
   
       7 . The sample plate of  claim 5 , wherein said hydrophilic basal region is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, and alike.  
   
   
       8 . The sample plate of  claim 5 , wherein said substrate is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyproylene, Teflon, stainless steel, aluminum, glass, silicon, and alike.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 (d) applying a droplet of a solvent to said sample; and    (e) transferring said sample of (d) to a conductively-coated pulled-tip borosilicate glass capillary or a microfabricated nozzle for static nanospray MS analysis.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said solvent comprises an organic component and an acid component, wherein said organic component accounts for about 40% or greater of said solvent, wherein said acid is between about 0.1-10% of said solvent, and wherein the remainder component is water.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 (d) applying a droplet of solvent to said sample,    (e) transferring said sample of (d) onto a MALDI target plate; and    (f) forming an admixture of (e) with a MALDI matrix for MALDI MS analysis.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said solvent comprises an organic component and an acid component, wherein said organic component accounts for about 40% or greater of said solvent, wherein said acid is between about 0.1-10% of said solvent, and wherein the remainder component is water.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 (d) applying a droplet of solvent to said sample; and    (e) transferring said droplet to a sample vial.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said solvent comprises an organic component and an acid component, wherein said organic component accounts for about 40% or greater of said solvent, wherein said acid is between about 0.1-10% of said solvent, and wherein the remainder component is water.