Matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization
Matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (MALDI-ESI) is a big and complicated way of making tiny things called ions. These ions are like really small pieces of atoms that have an electric charge. Scientists use MALDI-ESI to study lots of different things like proteins, DNA, and other stuff found in cells.
Here's how it works!
First, imagine you have a lot of tiny little things called molecules that you want to study. You can't just look at them with your eyes because they're too small. So you put them on something called a target plate. This plate is special because it can hold the molecules really still.
Next, you add something called a matrix onto the target plate with the molecules. A matrix is like a glue that helps the molecules stick together. It looks like little crystals and you sprinkle it on top of the molecules.
Then, you put the target plate with the matrix and molecules into a big machine. This machine looks kind of like a giant computer printer. It's called a mass spectrometer.
The first part of the mass spectrometer is the laser. The laser shines a really bright light on the matrix and molecules. This light is so strong that it makes the matrix and molecules get really hot.
When the matrix and molecules get really hot, something cool happens. The matrix starts to vaporize, or turn into a gas. When this happens, it takes the molecules with it. The molecules get very excited and start jumping around like popcorn in a hot pan.
Then, something else cool happens. There's a tiny little needle in the mass spectrometer that carries an electric charge. This needle is called the electrospray. When the matrix and molecules start jumping around, some of them hit the electrospray needle.
When this happens, the electrospray needle shoots an electric charge at the jumping molecules. This charge zaps the molecules and knocks off some of their parts. Those parts fly off and become new ions!
Finally, the ions fly into a detector where they make a signal. This signal tells the scientists what the molecules are made of and how many there are.
And that's how matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization works!
Here's how it works!
First, imagine you have a lot of tiny little things called molecules that you want to study. You can't just look at them with your eyes because they're too small. So you put them on something called a target plate. This plate is special because it can hold the molecules really still.
Next, you add something called a matrix onto the target plate with the molecules. A matrix is like a glue that helps the molecules stick together. It looks like little crystals and you sprinkle it on top of the molecules.
Then, you put the target plate with the matrix and molecules into a big machine. This machine looks kind of like a giant computer printer. It's called a mass spectrometer.
The first part of the mass spectrometer is the laser. The laser shines a really bright light on the matrix and molecules. This light is so strong that it makes the matrix and molecules get really hot.
When the matrix and molecules get really hot, something cool happens. The matrix starts to vaporize, or turn into a gas. When this happens, it takes the molecules with it. The molecules get very excited and start jumping around like popcorn in a hot pan.
Then, something else cool happens. There's a tiny little needle in the mass spectrometer that carries an electric charge. This needle is called the electrospray. When the matrix and molecules start jumping around, some of them hit the electrospray needle.
When this happens, the electrospray needle shoots an electric charge at the jumping molecules. This charge zaps the molecules and knocks off some of their parts. Those parts fly off and become new ions!
Finally, the ions fly into a detector where they make a signal. This signal tells the scientists what the molecules are made of and how many there are.
And that's how matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization works!