By BioNanoNet
Our research interests are aimed at the investigation of biological processes involving the synthesis, modification, storage and degradation of all kinds of biomolecules (metabolites, proteins, peptides, lipids, carbohydrates, drugs, vesicles, etc.) using modern mass spectrometric (MS) methods of analysis to follow molecular events. Modern MS techniques include electrospray (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) MS in combination with different mass analyzers providing high-speed, high mass and high spatial accuracy. This research is generally carried out with two experimental approaches: 1. Omics methodologies, in particular Proteomics, Glycomics, and Metabolomics, allow us to follow analyte turn-over rates in various kinds of biological material, e.g. tissues, cell cultures. We measure metabolic events in targeted and untargeted ways at very low concentration levels. We develop new analytical strategies and methodologies for application-driven research questions, e.g. bioadhesives/biofilms, fungal/microbial interactions, viruses, nanoparticles. 2. We map molecular distributions of intact molecules on surfaces (tissue sections, polymers, metals, etc.) through the production of ion images obtained from the surface by MALDI MS. This technique permits an unbiased detection of accurate molecular weight values of hundreds of analytes in parallel, localizing the biosubstances in an X, Y coordinate representation of the sample. We correlate this unbiased imaging approach with other state-of-the-art technologíes (e.g. CT, MRI, CML, (immuno)histology) to help to localize proteins, peptides, drugs, lipids or nanoparticles and study substance changes occurring in their native micro-environment. Reference publications: (1) Urey, Carlos, et al. “Combining gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analysis (GEMMA), light scattering, field flow fractionation and cryo electron microscopy in a multidimensional approach to characterize liposomal carrier vesicles.” International journal of pharmaceutics 513.1-2 (2016): 309-318. (2) Holzlechner, Matthias, et al. “In situ characterization of tissue-resident immune cells by MALDI mass spectrometry imaging.” Journal of proteome research 16.1 (2016): 65-76.
