The two-to-three day Introductory Course in LC-MS is directed at (starting) users of LC-MS within companies and laboratories. Some experience with the LC-MS instrumentation is recommended prior to attending this course. The aim is to learn the participants the general principles, background knowledge, and how to use this knowledge in practice. This course is build from modules. Each module consists of a lecture and a series of exercises.
The format of the course is interactive. This means that there will be lectures, which can be freely interrupted for questions and/or discussions, and exercises with interpretation examples, case studies, and other illustrations of the theory. These exercises are first done individually and subsequently discussed in the group.
Each course is tailor-made to the needs and wishes of the laboratory, both with respect to the selection of particular modules and the precise contents of the modules.
For more information, contact hyphen MassSpec Consultancy
Typical Outline of a Two-day Course
Session 1: Introduction. Principles of Mass Spectrometry.General principles of mass spectrometry are introduced. The module contains discussion on ionization techniques, quadrupole mass analysers, concepts of mass, and general aspects of data-acquisition and processing.
Session 2: Fundamentals and Chemistry of Electrospray Ionization for LC-MS.
Session 3: Information from LC-MS Mass Spectra.This session provides an overview of relevant instrumentation for electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, a profound discussion on the electrospray ionization mechanisms, and a start with discussion of matrix effects.
Session 4: LC-MS: Practical Aspects related to Mobile-Phase Composition.This session deals with the information that can be retrieved from a mass spectrum. Topics discussed are: average and monoisotopic mass, mass defects, double-bound equivalents, the nitrogen rule, isotope peaks, adduct ions and adduct-bound dimers.
Session 5: Other Mass Analyzers: Ion-trap and Time-of-Flight.This session provides an overview of solvent systems that can be applied in LC-MS. The use of non-volatile mobile-phase additives is discussed, as well as the effect of various additives on analyte response. It provides directives for method development.
Session 6: Fundamentals and Chemistry of Atmospheric-pressure Chemical Ionization for LC-MS.In this session, ion-trap and time-of-flight mass analyzers are discussed. What are the advantages and disadvantages of various mass analyzers in applications. In addition, some basic understanding of multiple charging of proteins is provided.
Session 7: Introduction to Tandem Mass Spectrometry.Instrumentation and ionization mechanisms for atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI) are discussed in this session. Additionally, attention is paid to the choice between electrospray and APCI: are they really as different as they seem to be?
Session 8: Quantitative Analysis with LC-MS-MS.Tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) is frequently applied in conjunction with LC-MS. Basic understanding of MS-MS in triple-quadrupole, ion-trap and hybrid-quadrupole-time-of-flight instruments is provided.
Quantitative (bio)analysis is an important application area for LC-MS. Topics related to method development and the choice of internal standards are discussed. Variopus important topics are illustrated using some application examples. Strategies to deal with matrix effects are discussed.
Additional Topics
Depending on the application area of the laboratory for which the course is prepared, other topics may be added to the above program, resulting in a more advanced three day course. Some of these topics are more application-oriented modules, such as: