MALDI – Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization
The MALDI-TOF-MS is an analytical technique for the analysis of molar masses of large molecules. By the use of a laser molecules are evaporated from a sample embedded in a matrix and converted to ions by the gain or loss of protons. For the mass spectroscopic analysis of the resulting ions a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) is used. An electric field accelerates the ions onto a field-free drift path, separates them according to their mass-to-charge ratio and detects them subsequently.
The method is used for medical or biological issues as well as for the investigation of large molecules such as polymers, biopolymers, proteins or pigments.