Disposable polymeric high-density nanovial arrays for matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry: I. Microstructuredevelopment and manufacturing

In order to meet the expected enormous demand for mass spectrometry (MS)thr ough-, put as a result of the current efforts to completely map the human p roteome, this paper presents a new concept for low-cost high-throughput pro tein identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-(MALDI-TOF)-MS peptide mapping using disposable polymeric high-densi ty nanovial MALDI target plates. By means of microfabrication technology pr ecision engineered nanovial arrays are fabricated in polymer substrates suc h as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). The target plate fabrication processes investigated were precision. micromilling, cold embo ssing and injection moulding (work in progress). Nanovial dimensions were 3 00, 400 or 500 mum. Typical array densities were 165 nanovials/cm(2), which corresponds to 3300 vials on a full Applied Biosystems MALDI target plate. Obtained MALDI data displayed equal mass resolution, accuracy, signal inte nsity for peptide standards as compared to high-density silicon nanovial ar rays previously reported by our group [7], as well as conventional stainles s steel or gold targets.