Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking companies interested in a R&D collaboration to sponsor the application of the technology described below to biological molecules. The ideal candidate will be involved in the mass spectrometry industry as a manufacturer of products or services and have a focus on the life science industry. The successful company must fund a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (see http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/ibdnew/mechanisms/cradas.htm) in order to gain access to the technology. Companies can expect rights to intellectual property developed under a collaboration. Companies interested in pursuing this opportunity should submit a letter of interest to the contact identified below. Use of a special solid form of silica as a substrate for matrix-free MALDI mass spectrometry Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) has made the characterization of molecules and proteins by mass spectrometry a routine method. However, the matrix used to help ionize the samples introduces background ions that make characterization difficult, especially for small molecules. The current invention describes the use of a matrix material that is not ionized with the samples. This new matrix material has significantly improved MALDI-MS for small molecules, is easy to make and is more durable than existing substrates. Contact: Tony Beugelsdijk, Technology Transfer Division, [email protected], PO Box 1663, MS C334 87545.

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