A powerful new scientific engine has arrived on the University of Maine campus — one capable of transforming how researchers across the state study everything from proteins and polymers to PFAS and microplastics.
Now housed in UMaine’s Department of Chemistry, a rare, state-of-the-art mass spectrometer positions the university as a central hub for advanced molecular research in Maine.
The instrument — formally known as a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer, or MALDI-TOF/TOF MS — is designed to provide highly detailed information about the identity, purity and structure of molecules. Its arrival is the result of a major, multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers at UMaine and partner institutions across the state.
“It’s a very sensitive technique that is used to precisely measure the mass of large molecules like proteins and polymers,” said Alice Bruce, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry.
Dean Emily Haddad of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences emphasized the broader significance of the acquisition for both research and education at UMaine.
“Our goal is always to ensure that UMaine students and faculty have the best available opportunities to learn and discover,” said Haddad. “Thanks to the faculty members who pursued this grant, having this instrument right here on our campus opens up whole new worlds of possibility.”
Those possibilities are amplified by the instrument’s rarity. According to Bruce, the MALDI-TOF/TOF MS is the only instrument of its kind in the state of Maine.
That distinction means its impact will extend well beyond the walls of Aubert Hall, where the instrument is housed. Researchers from across the UMaine campus — as well as from partner institutions throughout the state — will be able to access its capabilities for a wide range of projects.
For more information, training or scheduling use or testing, contact Coordinated Operating Research Entities (CORE) at um.core@maine.edu. The Department of Chemistry, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, CORE and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School all provided additional funding allocated to ensure the proper on-boarding of the instrument.
But what exactly does the instrument do, and how will it be used? Assistant professor of chemistry Alessia Battigelli, principal investigator on the grant alongside co-PI and assistant professor of chemistry Tomas Marangoni, offered insight into both the technology and the process that brought it to UMaine.
(Note: The following Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Q: Could you give a VERY basic breakdown of what this device is and some of what it does? Maybe an example or two?
A: The MALDI-TOF/TOF MS is a very sensitive instrument used to study molecules by measuring their weight. It is especially useful for analyzing large and complex molecules such as proteins, polymers, and sugars, as well as smaller molecules. This instrument helps scientists identify exactly what a substance is by measuring its precise molecular weight. It can also show whether a sample is pure or if it contains unwanted impurities. In addition, the instrument can break large molecules into smaller pieces and measure each piece separately. By studying these pieces, scientists can learn how the molecule is built, including the order of its building blocks and any chemical groups attached to it.
Q: What was the process like in terms of procuring this device? Where did it come from, how did you fund it, that sort of thing?
A: The instrument has been acquired following an NSF-MRI award ($625,000). The awarded proposal was the result of the effort of multidisciplinary research teams from many research departments (chemistry in primis, co-PIs Battigelli, Marangoni, Brichacek and Gramlich) and centers at UMaine and at other Maine institutions (e.g., Bowdoin College, Colby College, University of New England).
Q: In what ways will having this device in our lab benefit our students, our researchers, and our community?
A: The acquisition of this instrument will support and enhance current and new research activities in Maine in the field of nanotechnology, biomaterials, biomedicine, electronics, sustainable materials and composites, PFAS remediation efforts, and microplastic analysis. Supporting such a wide range of multidisciplinary research will also strengthen the networks between researchers at UMaine and other institutions.
The instrument is easy to use with a user-friendly platform, making it an exceptional educational tool that will serve for both research and educational purposes. Mass spectrometry, and more broadly, working with analytical instruments, is a critical aspect of undergraduate chemical education, and competences built from hands-on experience are essential to prepare graduate and undergraduate students for current and future industry and research careers.
Contact: Allen Adams, allen.adams@maine.edu
