Abstract: The invention provides devices, device configurations and methods for improved sensitivity, detection level and efficiency in mass spectrometry particularly as applied to biological molecules, including biological polymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids. In one aspect, the invention relates to charged droplet sources and their use as ion sources and as components in ion sources. In another aspect, the invention relates to charged droplet traps and their use as ion sources and as elements of ion sources. Further, the invention relates to the use of aerodynamic lenses for high efficiency ion transport to a charge particle analyzer, particularly a mass analyzer. Devices of this invention allow mass spectral analysis of a single charged droplet. The ion sources of this invention can be combined with any charge particle detector or mass analyzer, but are a particularly benefit when used in combination with a time of flight mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a corresponding composition of matter for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms. The composition of matter includes a metal substrate, a probe oligonucleotide immobilized on the substrate; and an upstream oligonucleotide either immobilized on the substrate or in a solution in contact with the substrate. The probe oligonucleotide and the upstream oligonucleotide participate cooperatively in an invasive cleavage reaction when the substrate is contacted with a cleavage agent and a target nucleic acid. Under proper reactions conditions, the probe oligonucleotide, the upstream oligonucleotide, the target nucleotide, and the cleavage agent cooperative result in the formation of a cleavage product at or near the location of a single nucleotide polymorphism of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, device configurations and methods for improved sensitivity, detection level and efficiency in mass spectrometry particularly as applied to biological molecules, including biological polymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Specifically, the invention relates to charged droplet sources and their use as ion sources and as components in ion sources. In addition, devices of this invention allow mass spectral analysis of a single charged droplet. Further, the charged droplet sources and ion sources of this invention can be combined with any charge particle detector or mass analyzer, but are a particularly benefit when used in combination with a time of flight mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, device configurations and methods for improved sensitivity, detection level and efficiency in mass spectrometry particularly as applied to biological molecules, including biological polymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids. In one aspect, the invention relates to charged droplet sources and their use as ion sources and as components in ion sources. In another aspect, the invention relates to charged droplet traps and their use as ion sources and as elements of ion sources. Further, the invention relates to the use of aerodynamic lenses for high efficiency ion transport to a charge particle analyzer, particularly a mass analyzer. Devices of this invention allow mass spectral analysis of a single charged droplet. The ion sources of this invention can be combined with any charge particle detector or mass analyzer, but are a particularly benefit when used in combination with a time of flight mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, device configurations and methods for improved sensitivity, detection level and efficiency in mass spectrometry particularly as applied to biological molecules, including biological polymers, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Specifically, the invention relates to charged droplet sources and their use as ion sources and as components in ion sources. In addition, devices of this invention allow mass spectral analysis of a single charged droplet. Further, the charged droplet sources and ion sources of this invention can be combined with any charge particle detector or mass analyzer, but are a particularly benefit when used in combination with a time of flight mass spectrometer.