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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/T019328/1
Title: High Resolution High Throughput Mass Spectrometry to Characterise Materials, Chemicals, and BioCatalysts
Principal Investigator: Barran, Professor PE
Other Investigators:
Cai, Professor Y Turner, Professor ML Flitsch, Professor S
Micklefield, Professor J Green, Dr AP Bellina, Dr B
Strashnov, Dr I Breitling, Professor R Scrutton, Professor NS
Flavell, Professor WR Bures, Dr J Hollywood, Dr KA
Takano, Professor E Lockyer, Professor NP Procter, Professor DJ
Turner, Professor NJ Leigh, Professor D Winpenny, Professor RE
Mills, Professor C
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Sphere Fluidics Limited Waters Corporation / Micromass U K Ltd
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Manchester, The
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 January 2020 Ends: 31 December 2022 Value (£): 1,099,473
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Analytical Science Chemical Biology
Chemical Synthetic Methodology Materials Characterisation
Med.Instrument.Device& Equip.
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare R&D
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
19 Nov 2019 EPSRC Strategic Equipment Interview Panel November 2019 - Panel 2 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
This proposal will equip UoM new equipment that will enable high throughput high resolution ion mobility mass spectrometry analysis. This bid will increase capacity for analysis and extend our capacity to measure a wide range of analytes. Specialist equipment will be used to measure the mass and the shape of a large number of newly synthesised chemicals. In the simplest terms possible, mass spectrometry measures the movement of ions in a vacuum to give mass and ion mobility mass spectrometry measures the movement of ions in a gas to give shape. If we measure mass very accurately we can work out what atoms a molecule is made of and if we measure the shape very accurately we can work out how the atoms are arranged. So for a large range of different molecules we will be able to tell what we have made and how much we have made.

The PI has been making ion mobility mass spectrometers and using ion mobility mass spectrometry for over 20 years. She has pioneered its use in many areas of chemistry and in this proposal we plan to do it even faster and with more accuracy.

This equipment will be located with the Manchester Institute for Biotechnology in the Michael Barber Centre for Collaborative Mass Spectrometry. It will be used by research teams at the University of Manchester as well as by external users from both academia and instrument. We will use this state of the art instrumentation to underpin investments by EPRSC in the Future Biomanufacturing Research hub and the Prosperity Partnership with AstraZeneca as well as other programs in materials and catalysis. This new capability will consist of two mass spectrometers coupled to novel ionisation sources. A State-of-the-art Cyclic IMS QTof MS instrument will provide unique enhanced analytical capabilities for molecular identification and structural characterisation of complex mixtures complete with full ion mobility data. A second "work-horse" DESI interfaced Synapt XS instrument will provide broader research access and wider application, and act as an initial screening platform prior to Cyclic Structural work for rapid mass spectrometry analysis. The ionisation sources will enable analysis with minimal sample preparation both directly from surfaces via Desorption Electrospray ionisation and with microfluidic droplet dispensing to provide a unique ultra-high-throughput (uHTP) screening capability. This will provide mass and structural data for a range of chemical analytes from small molecules to polymers, supramolecular compounds to biopharmaceuticals.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Summary
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Organisation Website: http://www.man.ac.uk