Abstract
The utilization of dendrimer calibrants as an alternative to peptides and proteins for high mass calibration is explored. These synthetic macromolecules exhibited a number of attractive advantages, including exceptional shelf-lives, broad compatibility with a wide range of matrices and solvents, and evenly spaced calibration masses across the mass range examined, 700–30,000 u. The exceptional purity of these dendrimers and the technical simplicity of this calibration platform validate their broad relevance for high molecular weight mass spectrometry.

ᅟ
This is a preview of subscription content,
to check access.



References
Vestal, M.L.: The future of biological mass spectrometry. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 22, 953–959 (2011)
Steen, H., Mann, M.: The ABC’s (and the XYZ’s) of peptide sequencing. Nature Rev. Mol. Cell Bio. 5, 699–711 (2004)
Montaudo, G., Samperi, F., Montaudo, M.S.: Characterization of synthetic polymers by MALDI-MS. Prog. Polym. Sci. 31, 277–357 (2006)
Gruendling, T., Weidner, S., Falkenhagen, J., Barner-Kowollik, C.: Mass spectrometry in polymer chemistry: a state-of-the-art up-date. Polym. Chem. 1, 599–617 (2010)
Trimpin, S., Weidner, S.M.: Mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers. Anal. Chem. 80, 4349–4361 (2008)
Ihre, H., Padilla de Jesus, O.L., Frechet, J.M.J.: Fast and convenient divergent synthesis of aliphatic ester dendrimers by anhydride coupling. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 123, 5908–5917 (2001)
Peterson, J., Allikmaa, V., Subbi, J., Pehk, T., Lopp, M.: Structural deviations in poly(amidoamine) dendrimers: a MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Eur. Polym. J. 39, 33–42 (2003)
Carlmark, A., Malmström, E., Malkoch, M.: Dendritic architectures based on bis-MPA: functional polymeric scaffolds for application-driven research. Chem. Soc. Rev. 42, 5858–5879 (2013)
Feliu, N., Walter, M.V., Montañez, M.I., Kunzmann, A., Hult, A., Nyström, A., Malkoch, M., Fadeel, B.: Stability and biocompatibility of a library of polyester dendrimers in comparison to polyamidoamine dendrimers. Biomaterials 33, 1970–1981 (2012)
McEwen, C.N., Larsen, B.S.: Accurate mass measurement of proteins using electrospray ionization on a magnetic sector instrument. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 6, 173–178 (1992)
Cody, R.B., Tamura, J., Musselman, B.D.: Electrospray ionization/magnetic sector mass spectrometry: Calibration, resolution, and accurate mass measurements. Anal. Chem. 64, 1561–1570 (1992)
Pleasance, S., Thibault, P., Sim, P.G., Boyd, R.K.: Cesium iodide clusters as mass calibrants in ionspray mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 5, 307–308 (1991)
Anacleto, J.F., Pleasance, S., Boyd, R.K.: Calibration of ion spray mass spectra using cluster ions. Org. Mass Spectrom. 27, 660–666 (1992)
Hop, C.E.C.A.: Generation of high molecular weight cluster ions by electrospray ionization: implications for mass calibration. J. Mass Spectrom. 31, 1314–1316 (1996)
Moini, M., Jones, B.L., Rogers, R.M., Jiang, L.: Sodium trifluoroacetate as a tune/calibration compound for positive- and negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the mass range of 100–4000 Da. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 9, 977–980 (1998)
Konig, S., Fales, H.M.: Calibration of mass ranges up to m/z 10,000 in electrospray mass spectrometers. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 10, 273–276 (1999)
Letzel, M.C., Agena, C., Mattay, J.: Calibration of electrospray mass spectrometers with rccc-2,8,14,20-tetra-n-octyl-5,11,17,23-tetrahydroxyresorc[4]arene in the high mass range up to m/z 6000. Eur. J. Mass Spectrom. 7, 35–38 (2001)
Clowers, B.H., Dodds, E.D., Seipert, R.R., Lebrilla, C.B.: Dual polarity accurate mass calibration for electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry using malto-oligosaccharides. Anal. Biochem. 381, 205–213 (2008)
Lou, X., van Dongen, J.L.J., Meijer, E.W.: Generation of CsI cluster ions for mass calibration in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 21, 1223–1226 (2010)
Zaia, J., Annan, R.S., Bieman, K.: The correct molecular weight of myoglobin, a common calibrant for mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 6, 32–36 (1992)
Wooley, K.L., Frechet, J.M.J., Hawker, C.J.: Influence of shape on the reactivity and properties of dendritic, hyperbranched, and linear aromatic polyesters. Polymer 35, 4489–4495 (1994)
Black, C., Poile, C., Langley, J., Herniman, J.: The use of pencil lead as a matrix and calibrant for matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 20, 1053–1060 (2006)
Daniels, R.H., Dikler, S., Li, E., Stacey, C.: Break free of the matrix: sensitive and rapid analysis of small molecules using nanostructured surfaces and LDI-TOF mass spectrometry. J. Assoc. Lab. Automation 13, 314–321 (2008)
Wyatt, M.F., Ding, S., Stein, B.K., Brenton, A.G., Daniels, R.H.: Analysis of various organic and organometallic compounds using nanostructure-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (NALDI-TOFMS). J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 21, 1256–1259 (2010)
Acknowledgments
This work was performed with the help of Tulane University and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems, VINNOVA, through the Forska&Väx program.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
ESM 1
(PDF 1490 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grayson, S.M., Myers, B.K., Bengtsson, J. et al. Advantages of Monodisperse and Chemically Robust “SpheriCal” Polyester Dendrimers as a “Universal” MS Calibrant. J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 25, 303–309 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-013-0777-8
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-013-0777-8