Ultra-high throughput mass spectrometry with ultra high-speed separations: differential mobility spectrometry–acoustic ejection mass spectrometry (DAEMS)

With the ongoing advancements in the field of ambient ionization for mass spectrometry, systems with a high-throughput capability on the order of 1 sample/second are readily available. This has led to the adoption of mass spectrometry for a wide variety of applications including those in the drug discovery process. Mass spectrometers have traditionally relied on pre-separation technologies such as high-pressure liquid chromatography for sample clean-up and isobaric separations, but such techniques are not high-throughput compatible. Differential mobility spectrometry is a high-speed atmospheric separation device with separations orthogonal to m/z that can be coupled with the high-throughput sample introduction devices such as acoustic ejection mass spectrometer to address this gap. In this article we highlight the significance of the recent reports on this topic and provide some insights into expanding the use of this technique for new applications. We believe this is a promising new development and will help propel the high-throughput mass spectrometry beyond isobaric interferences.