Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry

Clinical mass spectrometry relies on ionization of liquid biological samples, often via electrospray. This work broadly leverages additive manufacturing for the development of electrospray emitters, doubling signal-to-clutter ratios relative to state-of-the-art. We demonstrate low-cost integration i...

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Main Author: Kachkine, Alex
Other Authors: Velasquez-Garcia, Luis Fernando
Format: Thesis
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2023
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151864
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1118-0218
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author Kachkine, Alex
author2 Velasquez-Garcia, Luis Fernando
author_facet Velasquez-Garcia, Luis Fernando
Kachkine, Alex
author_sort Kachkine, Alex
collection MIT
description Clinical mass spectrometry relies on ionization of liquid biological samples, often via electrospray. This work broadly leverages additive manufacturing for the development of electrospray emitters, doubling signal-to-clutter ratios relative to state-of-the-art. We demonstrate low-cost integration in clinically-relevant diagnostics protocols by designing emitters into surface mount devices, the first of their kind, that can be directly soldered to printed circuit boards with built-in digital microfluidics as part of automated device assembly. The benefits in terms of scalability of this solution are coupled with advantages gained from simultaneously tuning surface hydrophilicity, solvent evaporation, and geometry. Electrospray emitter efficiency is optimized, approaching the direct field ion evaporation limit. Several materials and additive manufacturing processes to make the electrospray emitters are evaluated; comparative testing is conducted with conventional paper spray and coated blade spray. Microstructure characterization with scanning electron microscopy shows reproducible microfabrication of bulk techniques and compatibility with additive manufacturing feedstock. Geometrically and electro-fluidically optimized electrospray emitters attain 130% higher steady-state currents than state-of-the-art emitters. The devices use novel extractor electrode designs, reducing corona discharge and air breakdown, enabling operation at ~24% larger bias voltages compared to conventional cylindrical inlets. MS data is presented for ZnONW-coated emitters, detecting therapeutically relevant targets at 1 µg/ml concentrations with a variety of solvents. In the case of Nicardipine, such emitters attain 99% higher signal-to-clutter ratios versus state-of-the-art, with far greater operative stability. This thesis bridges the gap between additive manufacturing and high-performance electrospray for mass spectrometry, unlocking industrial development of clinically relevant, next-generation point-of-care ion sources.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1518642023-08-24T03:01:02Z Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry Kachkine, Alex Velasquez-Garcia, Luis Fernando Gopinath, Ashwin Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Clinical mass spectrometry relies on ionization of liquid biological samples, often via electrospray. This work broadly leverages additive manufacturing for the development of electrospray emitters, doubling signal-to-clutter ratios relative to state-of-the-art. We demonstrate low-cost integration in clinically-relevant diagnostics protocols by designing emitters into surface mount devices, the first of their kind, that can be directly soldered to printed circuit boards with built-in digital microfluidics as part of automated device assembly. The benefits in terms of scalability of this solution are coupled with advantages gained from simultaneously tuning surface hydrophilicity, solvent evaporation, and geometry. Electrospray emitter efficiency is optimized, approaching the direct field ion evaporation limit. Several materials and additive manufacturing processes to make the electrospray emitters are evaluated; comparative testing is conducted with conventional paper spray and coated blade spray. Microstructure characterization with scanning electron microscopy shows reproducible microfabrication of bulk techniques and compatibility with additive manufacturing feedstock. Geometrically and electro-fluidically optimized electrospray emitters attain 130% higher steady-state currents than state-of-the-art emitters. The devices use novel extractor electrode designs, reducing corona discharge and air breakdown, enabling operation at ~24% larger bias voltages compared to conventional cylindrical inlets. MS data is presented for ZnONW-coated emitters, detecting therapeutically relevant targets at 1 µg/ml concentrations with a variety of solvents. In the case of Nicardipine, such emitters attain 99% higher signal-to-clutter ratios versus state-of-the-art, with far greater operative stability. This thesis bridges the gap between additive manufacturing and high-performance electrospray for mass spectrometry, unlocking industrial development of clinically relevant, next-generation point-of-care ion sources. S.M. 2023-08-23T16:14:27Z 2023-08-23T16:14:27Z 2023-06 2023-07-19T18:45:20.040Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151864 https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1118-0218 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Kachkine, Alex
Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title_full Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title_fullStr Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title_full_unstemmed Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title_short Additively Manufacturing High-Performance, Low-Cost Electrospray Ion Sources for Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometry
title_sort additively manufacturing high performance low cost electrospray ion sources for point of care mass spectrometry
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/151864
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1118-0218
work_keys_str_mv AT kachkinealex additivelymanufacturinghighperformancelowcostelectrosprayionsourcesforpointofcaremassspectrometry