Megadalton Detector - Ion detection with applications to very large, charged molecules without mass limitation

BACKGROUND

This innovation analyzes on different fragments of a deliberately segmented molecule, in a complex experimental process. This original approach allows new medical applications: for macromolecules rapid detection (proteins and viruses for example) in a single step, simply, reliably and unambiguously. The present detection method shows no upper or lower limit in mass range. It allows the detection of charged particles having a mass greater than 10^6 Da.

HOW IT WORKS

The MegaDalton detector is based on the perturbation induced by a charged particle passage within an ion cloud. The ion cloud being confined in an ion trap and cooled by laser, as shown on the left figure. This perturbation is amplified by the radio frequency heating, induced by the confining potential, resulting in the ion cloud fluorescence signal modification. One way to measure this perturbation is to measure the decrease fluorescence signal : a macroscopic signal, which can be measured with standard means of non-intrusive fluorescence collection and photon counting (right figure).

KEY BENEFITS

•Ultra-massive charged particles detection (mass greater than 10^6 Da)
•Detection independent of the charged particle mass
•This method allows the detection of a single charged particle
•No destructive measurement

DEVELOPMENT STATUS

Prototype

APPLICATIONS

•Mass spectrometry
•Medical applications for rapid detection of macromolecules (proteins and viruses e.g.)