Rapid differentiation of cystic fibrosis-related bacteria via reagentless atmospheric pressure photoionisation mass spectrometry.

Breath analysis is an area of significant interest in medical research as it allows for non-invasive sampling with exceptional potential for disease monitoring and diagnosis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in breath can offer critical insight into a person's lifestyle and/or disease/health state. To this end, the development of a rapid, sensitive, cost-effective and potentially portable method for the detection of key compounds in breath would mark a significant advancement.

Emergency diagnosis made easy: matrix removal and analyte enrichment from raw saliva using paper-arrow mass spectrometry.

Paracetamol overdose is a leading cause of acute liver failure that can prove fatal. Establishing paracetamol concentration accurately and quickly is critical. Current detection methods are invasive, time-consuming and/or expensive.

Focusing ion funnel-assisted ambient electrospray enables high-density and uniform deposition of non-spherical gold nanoparticles for highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful technique for detecting trace amounts of analytes. However, the performance of SERS substrates depends on many variables including the enhancement factor, morphology, consistency, and interaction with target analytes. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, the use of electrospray deposition (ESD) combined with a novel ambient focusing DC ion funnel to deposit a high density of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to generate large-area, uniform substrates for highly sensitive SERS analysis.

Attaching protein-adsorbing silica particles to the surface of cotton substrates for bioaerosol capture including SARS-CoV-2.

The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has necessitated a global increase in the use of face masks to limit the airborne spread of the virus. The global demand for personal protective equipment has at times led to shortages of face masks for the public, therefore makeshift masks have become commonplace. The severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a spherical particle size of ~97 nm.

Accelerated nucleophilic substitution reactions of dansyl chloride with aniline under ambient conditions via dual-tip reactive paper spray.

Paper spray ionization (PSI) mass spectrometry (MS) is an emerging tool for ambient reaction monitoring via microdroplet reaction acceleration. PSI-MS was used to accelerate and monitor the time course of the reaction of dansyl chloride with aniline, in acetonitrile, to produce dansyl aniline. Three distinct PSI arrangements were explored in this study representing alternative approaches for sample loading and interaction; conventional single tip as well as two novel setups, a dual-tip and a co-axial arrangement were designed so as to limit any on-paper interaction between reagents.

Flexible Drift Tube for High Resolution Ion Mobility Spectrometry (Flex-DT-IMS).

This paper describes, in detail, the development of a novel, low-cost, and flexible drift tube (DT) along with an associated ion mobility spectrometer system. The DT is constructed from a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), with a bespoke "dog-leg" track design, that can be rolled up for ease of assembly. This approach incorporates a shielding layer, as part of the flexible PCB design, and represents the minimum dimensional footprint conceivable for a DT.