Applied Biosystems and MDS Analytical Technologies have introduced the AB Sciex TOF/TOF 5800 Maldi-based mass spectrometer.
This system will help researchers advance the discovery of biomarkers to improve the understanding of diseases for potential use in a clinical setting, which is part of the promise of personalised medicine.
The AB Sciex 5800 represents a significant advancement in Maldi-TOF mass spectrometry (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight technology), which works by ionising complex biological samples and identifying the individual protein components by their molecular weight.
This system enables researchers to identify up to 30 per cent more proteins at a rate that Applied Biosystems claims is 10-times faster than any other Maldi system, thereby setting the highest standard for protein biomarker discovery, Maldi imaging and protein identification.
This system can be combined with the Proteinpilot 3.0 processing software application to form part of a workflow that accelerates proteomics research.
By expanding the boundaries of protein discovery, the AB Sciex 5800 enables scientists to achieve in less than a day what takes more than two weeks on other Maldi-based systems.
Discovering more protein biomarkers will enable scientists to identify and quantify more proteins in complex samples faster than existing systems today.
Laura Lauman, president of Life Technologies' mass spectrometry systems division, said: 'The ability to better understand diseases at the protein level will ultimately improve diagnosis and help to create more effective treatments based on an individual's expression of specific proteins that relate to a disease or a response to targeted therapies.'
