Soft X-ray radiation applied in the analysis of intact viruses and antibodies by means of nano electrospray differential mobility analysis

Abstract

The analysis of an intact infectious virus and a therapeutic monoclonal antibody with a nano electrospray differential mobility analyzer, a kind of ion mobility device, (nES-DMA aka nES GEMMA, macroIMS or SMPS) incorporating a commercial soft X-ray (SXR) source for charge reduction was successfully demonstrated representing a clear alternative to a 210Po-based charge reducing source for bio nanoparticles. Not only bio nanoparticle detection and size determination will be shown with the SXR device but also particle number-based quantification demonstrated with an antibody. These achievements will open up new avenues in life sciences in general as well as in biomonitoring.