Benchtop Mass Spectrometer

The MALDI-8020, a benchtop matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS), from Shimadzu Scientific Instruments saves space while achieving performance specifications similar to those of larger MALDI-TOF models.

The instrument accelerates lab analysis through a load-lock system for rapid sample-target introduction and a solid-state laser for rapid data acquisition speeds, as stated by the company.

Using linear time of flight, the system enables low-level detection of proteins, peptides, polymers, and other analytes. The instrument can also accommodate standard laboratory workflows, including peptide mass-fingerprinting for simple protein identity confirmation, in-source decay, and polymer distribution analysis.

The instrument, operated by MALDI Solutions software, is suited for pharmaceutical quality control labs as well as academic and industrial labs with limited laboratory space. MALDI Solutions offerings include security, audit trails, and user management to help meet 21 CFR Part 11 compliance.

An integrated barcode scanner allows for a seamless workflow from loading samples to obtaining results. Additionally, TrueClean automated UV-laser source cleaning and a new ion optic design ensure robust instrument performance.

“Kratos Analytical has a long history with MALDI-TOF technology going back to the 1990s when we released the ‘KOMPACT MALDI’ series of benchtop instruments,” Mr. Kozo Shimazu, managing director of Kratos Analytical (a wholly owned subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation), said in a company press release. “As instruments developed, there was a move towards floor-standing platforms but, recently, market demand has prompted the development of a smaller product which is capable of performing rapid screening through the intact analysis of samples.”

Source: Shimadzu