Silver 109 Ag Nanoparticles for Matrix-Less Mass Spectrometry of Nucleosides and Nucleic Bases

The application of new 109 AgNPET nanoparticle surface for analysis of nucleosides and nucleic bases is described along with characterization of 109Ag nanoparticles. The nanoparticles allow laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry analyses of various low molecular weight (LMW) organic compounds. The new method was used for successful determination of thymidine, 5-fluorouracil, 2’-deoxycytidine, cytidine and 2’-deoxyuridine. The mass determination accuracy was in the 1-3 mDa range which confirms identity of the analyte.