Rationale
Investigation of nanoparticles for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS) is routinely reported. However, the effect of surface capping of nanomaterials for LDI‐MS is not well studied.
Methods
Different capping agents of quantum dots (CdTe) affect the spectra quality and sensitivity of protein analysis and protein digestion using trypsin enzyme assisted by microwave. Surface modification of CdTe quantum dots with different capping agents, namely 3‐mercaptopropionic acid (3‐MPA), 4‐aminothiophenol (4‐ATP), 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid (4‐MBA), 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (11‐MUA), cysteine (Cys) and thioglycolic acid (TG), were investigated for quantum dots (QDs)‐assisted trypsin protease followed by analysis using mass spectrometry.
Results
CdTe QDs were used as a surface to assist trypsin protease and laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (surface‐assisted laser …