Instrumentation
The center strives to set the standard for nontarget analysis with the help of state-of-the-art High-Resolution Accurate Mass (HRAM) Mass Spectrometry platforms and data analytics. The Gas Chromatography (GC) Orbitrap platform allows for the comprehensive detection of various exogenous chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants, emerging contaminants, and more. The Liquid Chromatography High-Resolution Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer instrumentation allows a broad spectrum analysis of thousands of endogenous and exogenous metabolites/chemicals in biological samples.
TIMS (Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry) TOF HT
The combination of TIMS with time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) allows researchers to gather both mobility and mass data, which can be combined to leverage insights into the structure, function and interactions of proteins and other biological molecules. TimsTOF HT is a cutting-edge mass spectrometer developed by Bruker, tailored for high-throughput -omics research. The HT (High-Throughput) designation underscores its optimization for handling large sample cohorts with increased efficiency, making it suitable for large-scale studies or clinical research applications.
The timsTOF HT has enhanced ion optics and trapping capabilities for improved ion transmission and retention, enabling researchers to capture more analytes in a shorter timeframe. Combined with the PASEF® (Parallel Accumulation Serial Fragmentation) technology, the timsTOF HT is geared to boost small molecule identification rates without sacrificing quality. This combination is particularly beneficial for complex biological samples, where the ability to analyze a broader range of molecules simultaneously is critical. The instrument’s Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry (TIMS) technology provides an additional dimension of separation through ion mobility, which can be used to resolve isobaric species and improve overall selectivity. This feature enables researchers to delve deeper into intricate biological systems, uncovering low-abundance analytes that might otherwise remain undetected. Moreover, the timsTOF HT offers rapid acquisition speeds, facilitating robust data collection in high-throughput settings, such as biomarker and drug metabolite discovery.
Thermo Scientific Q Exactive™ HF-X MS
Thermo Scientific Q Exactive HF-X Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap High-Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometer (LC-HRMS) leads our LCMS-based analytical platforms for exposomics. The Q Exactive HF-X is equipped with a high-capacity transfer tube (HCTT) and electrodynamic ion funnel, ensuring a broader mass range for metabolite detection. The Q Exactive HF-X MS with a scan speed up to 40 Hz and 240,000 resolving power allows deep metabolome coverage, reproducibility, throughput, and robustness essential for longitudinal unbiased exposome studies.
Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris™ 240 MS
Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 240 combines high mass accuracy, sensitivity, and resolving power of 240,000 across a wide dynamic range to provide exceptional data quality for human exposome analysis. Exploris 240, equipped with an EASY-IC internal calibration source, allows unknown mass analysis with high accuracy (<1 ppm) and precision. E240 HRAM MS (LC-HRMS), with its operational simplicity and built-in AcquireX intelligent data acquisition strategy, collects more meaningful data with a faster turnaround leading to higher depth and coverage of human metabolome.
Thermo Orbitrap ExplorisTM GC 240 High-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) mass spectrometer
Thermo Orbitrap Exploris™ GC 240HRAM mass spectrometer (GC-HRMS) enables the characterization of environmental exposures in complex biological samples in a high-throughput manner. It delivers a resolving power of up to 240,000, providing excellent exposome coverage with sub-ppm mass accuracy. The system is equipped with Electron Impact (EI) and Chemical Ionization (CI) with MS/MS capabilities, offering versatility in ionization techniques. This capability enables the nontarget profiling of a wide range of chemicals, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), emerging environmental contaminants, and unknown compounds. Unbiased GCMS-based exposomics is crucial in advancing our understanding of environmental health by linking exposures to disease outcomes.
Thermo Scientific Orbitrap IQ-X Tribrid mass spectrometer
The Thermo IQ-X Tribrid Mass Spectrometer significantly expands our capabilities to explore human exposome by allowing follow-up identification, validation, and in-depth characterization of unknown compounds. The IQX- MS is a state-of-the-art MS system with tribrid architecture, uniquely designed to accomplish sensitive, accurate, unbiased, and high-throughput on-the-fly structural characterization of unknowns through ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD), linear ion trap (for MSn mass fragmentation ion tree), real-time spectral library searching, and AcquireX data acquisition workflows. It has enhanced capabilities such as multiple fragmentation techniques, higher precursor ion selectivity, and a fully automated calibration source. Using the IQ-X to follow up on the suspect features from our LC/GC combined platform provides unparalleled discovery for exposomics research.
All the HRAM MS systems listed above are integrated with the Thermo Scientific Vanquish™ Duo UHPLCs. Vanquish Duo UHPLC systems combine two independent LC flow paths to double the sample throughput or to exploit two-column chemistries in parallel to expand the exposome depth and coverage.
If you are interested in collaborating please contact us at: exposomics@cumc.columbia.edu
