Traditionally, mass spectrometry has been confined to the confines of large research facilities and hospitals. However, there is a push to make this technology more accessible for home health monitoring. Researchers at the University of Washington have made significant progress in this area by creating a miniature ionizer using 3D printing technology. This ionizer plays a vital role in a mass spectrometer and has the potential to pave the way for an affordable, in-home mass spectrometer in the future.
The traditional process of sending blood samples to labs for testing can be cumbersome, especially for individuals managing chronic diseases. The vision is to localize mass spectrometry, enabling individuals to perform tests at home using compact and cost-effective devices. This concept is driven by the idea of affordability, as highlighted by Luis Fernando Velásquez-García, a principal research scientist at MIT’s Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL).
Through their collaboration, Velásquez-García and Alex Kachkine, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, have made significant advancements in creating a low-cost ionizer for mass spectrometry. By leveraging 3D printing technology and innovative materials, they have developed an ionizer that outperforms existing models. This compact device can be efficiently mass-produced, making it more economical than traditional manual labor-intensive ionizers.
The ionizer’s performance is further enhanced by a unique approach to using special materials and precise 3D printing techniques. This allows individuals to craft their own high-quality ionizers that surpass commercially available options in performance and cost-effectiveness.
In the realm of mass spectrometry, ionizers play a crucial role in analyzing samples by giving them an electrical charge. The MIT researchers have harnessed 3D printing and novel techniques to create an affordable electrospray emitter that excels in performance compared to current ionizer models. This emitter, made from metal using binder jetting technology, goes beyond conventional methods to deliver superior results.
Moreover, the team’s innovative design incorporates features like electropolished emitters coated with zinc oxide nanowires to enhance liquid filtering efficiency. They have also reimagined the counter-electrode to minimize arcing, leading to improved safety and performance. The integration of a low-cost printed circuit board with digital microfluidics further enhances the ionizer’s liquid droplet transportation capabilities.
As a result of these innovations, the electrospray emitter can operate at higher voltages, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio for enhanced performance. This breakthrough brings us closer to realizing an affordable point-of-care mass spectrometer that can revolutionize home health monitoring. Moving forward, the team plans to integrate the ionizer with other essential components like a 3D-printed mass filter and vacuum pumps to complete a compact mass spectrometer.
This groundbreaking research was supported by Empiriko Corporation and is published in the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. For further details, the article can be accessed here.