Mass Spectrometry Technologies for Critical Analytical Challenges: from Small Molecules to Mega Dalton Complexes

Recent innovations in speed, accuracy and sensitivity have established mass spectrometry (MS) based methods as a key technology for the analysis of complex mixtures. MS techniques are emerging as the analytical gold standard for the identification and characterization of molecular components with wide applications in forensic, environmental, and biomedical research.  My research group focuses on the development of emerging technologies for characterization and structural elucidation.  We utilized new, multidimensional separation workflows combining new physical probes in tandem with novel, post-ionization separations based on tandem trapped ion mobility (TIMS) and tandem MS/MS using electron and UV fragmentation probes. The simplicity, low cost, high ion transmission, versatility and high mobility resolution have quickly established TIMS as one of the leading mobility technologies. TIMS-MS technologies have enabled the study of isomerization kinetics of small molecules, peptides, and DNA; the influence of the collision partner on the molecular ion conformational dynamics for small molecules, peptides and proteins; lifetimes and stabilities of molecular adduct complexes; separation of D-amino acid containing peptides; identification of lasso peptide topologies and adduct effects; back exchange HDX-TIMS-MS for molecular footprinting, sequence influence on the conformational dynamics and binding of peptides, DNA and proteins; gas-phase structural heterogeneities defined by salt bridges; and structural changes by thermal denaturation of proteins and protein complexes among others. With reported mobility resolving powers up to 400 over a wide mobility range, direct CCS measurements up to 22,000 Ų with < 0.6% RSD, the potential to be coupled to pre-separation (e.g., GC and LC) and ultra-high FT-ICR MS, TIMS-MS stands as one of the most versatile, low-cost, analytical tools under development. 

Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University. He received a BS (2001) and MS (2003) in Nuclear Physics from the Institute of Nuclear Sciences and Technology (Havana, Cuba) and a PhD (2006) in Applied Physics from the Pontific Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) under the guidance of Dr. Enio F. da Silveira. He performed post-doctoral studies (2007-2010) at Texas A&M University under the mentorship of Dr. David H. Russell and Dr. Emile A. Schweikert. He is the recipient of a NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence, NSF CAREER and NIH MIRA awards. He has published over 170 peer-reviewed research articles, 2 book chapters and a patent on topoisomer separations.