The crux of this study is two-fold. First, we demonstrate the unique potential electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometry offers toward synthetic polymer analysis. These studies include hyphenation of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with ESI and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to evaluate polydisperse polymers. We obtain detailed information including repeat unit sequence, existence of impurities, and end group chemistry of selected polymeric materials. We discuss our efforts to engage in high throughput polymer analysis. This discussion includes a perspective on relative quantitation of mass distributions within a polydisperse polymer. The second part of this report demonstrates the potential for mass spectrometry to evaluate the interactions between protein and polymer materials. These studies include the analysis of proteins directly from a contact lens using MALDI-TOF MS. Also the unfolding of lysozyme protein in the presence of select polymer materials is demonstrated through hydrogen/dueterium exchange experiments and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements.
Though only preliminary steps toward a more complete understanding of implant materials, this report provides an overview of MALDI and ESI-TOF MS and demonstrates the ability of these techniques to evaluate polymer materials and probe for polymer-protein interactions.
Pete joined Bausch & Lomb in 1999 as a Senior Scientist in the Polymer Development Group. Here he developed mass spectrometry methods for the analysis of implant device polymer materials. Currently Pete holds the rank of Principal Scientist. He has authored or co-authored 20 peer-reviewed research articles and over 40 technical presentations on the subject of polymer analysis by mass spectrometry. Pete is an adjunct professor at Monroe Community College in Rochester. He is a member of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry and chairman of the Polymer Interest group.
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