Matrixassisterad

Matrixassisterad is a Swedish term used to describe processes or instruments that rely on a matrix to aid a chemical or physical transformation during analysis or measurement. The phrase is most common in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry, where the matrix provides energy absorption and transfer to the analyte. The best-known example is matrixassisterad laserdesorption/ionisering (MALDI), a soft ionization method widely used for biomolecules.

In MALDI, a solid matrix co-crystallizes with the analyte; laser irradiation causes the matrix to absorb energy and transfer it to the analyte, enabling desorption and ionization with relatively little fragmentation. The method enables analysis of large molecules such as proteins and peptides and supports high sensitivity. Common matrices include alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and sinapinic acid, chosen for ionization efficiency in different mass ranges. Limitations include matrix-derived background peaks in the low-mass region and the need for careful sample preparation and matrix selection.

Beyond MALDI, matrixassisterad is used to describe other techniques where a matrix facilitates a process, illustrating the general concept of matrix-assisted methods. The term reflects the translation of the English "matrix-assisted" into Swedish scientific terminology. MALDI was developed in the 1980s by researchers including Franz Hillenkamp and Michael Karas and has since become a routine tool in proteomics, metabolomics, and polymer analysis.