4D LC-TIMS-MS/MS separations and CCS measurements at scale for unprecedented specificity and annotation confidence
Bruker Corporation launched timsMetabo, a peak-performance 4D-Metabolomics™ mass spectrometer delivering unprecedented sensitivity, separation power and annotation confidence for small molecules, further enhanced by the novel TIMS ‘MoRE’ scan-mode. The timsMetabo system enables the generation of a ‘digital metabolome archive’ for every sample, providing TIMS-enabled qual-quant performance with greatly increased confidence for automated annotation, leveraging 4D separations and reproducible molecular collision cross sections (CCS) at scale for 4D-Metabolomics and 4D-Lipidomics™.
Breakthrough timsMetabo Performance with MoRE
The benchtop timsMetabo system combines unique and powerful trappped ion mobility separation (TIMS) technology and time-focussing for exceptional sensitivity. Novel Mobility Range Enhancement (MoRE) acquisition leverages the enhanced ion capacity of the dual-stage TIMS-MX ion funnel, expanding its mass-to-charge and mobility ranges. Coupled with a new high-precision quadrupole and the innovative Athena Ion Processor (AIP), the timsMetabo is the next-generation 4D-Metabolomics research and validation workhorse for unprecedented confidence in small molecule analysis in complex mixtures – with sensitivity at speed and scale.
The timsMetabo excels at resolving isomers, isobars, and interferences in routine operation owing to its unique additional real-time gas phase CCS ion separation capability, delivering highly-selective MS1-based quantification – at speed and scale.
For assays requiring precision at the limit of quantitation, the AIP-equipped timsMetabo provides cleaner, less-chimeric MS/MS acquisition at rates up to 300 Hz for targeted quantitative analysis using parallel reaction monitoring. The AIP leverages mobility information encoded by TIMS in each acquisition cycle for optimal transfer of MS and MS/MS-derived ions for TOF mass analysis.
These novel features synergistically produce a rich digital metabolome archive of metabolite identity and quantity from each sample, enabling confident analysis, and enabling AI in metabolomics with machine learning from large-scale, high-quality data sets. The timsMetabo supports both HESI and CSI ion sources for coupling with analytical flow, microflow and nanoflow high-performance liquid chromatography.
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Dr. Frédéric Vaz, Associate Professor and Head of the Core Facility Metabolomics (CFM) at University of Amsterdam Medical Center, said: “The timsMetabo uniquely combines sensitivity and selectivity, facilitating measurement of both, known biomarkers and the exploration of new metabolic signatures in research on inborn errors of metabolism. This performance versatility in a single instrument accelerates our research in expanding our knowledge of human metabolism from a clinical/translational perspective towards our ultimate goal to use such technologies to unravel pathologic mechanism of disease and promote new therapeutic strategies for both inherited and acquired disorders.”
Prof. Pieter Dorrestein, Professor at the University of San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director, Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center and Co-Director, Institute for Metabolomics Medicine, commented: “ Bile acids are a diverse and biologically important class of molecules involved in nutrient transport, immune regulation, and are altered in response to medications, diet, and disease. Thousands of distinct bile acid structures – including newly discovered microbially modified forms – are now being revealed. Ion mobility, enhanced by reproducible CCS values at scale, alongside chromatography and MS/MS, is unlocking this hidden complexity, advancing our understanding of bile acid biology, clinical research, and therapeutic discovery. The technology within the timsMetabo will help us better understand this biologically diverse class of molecules routinely, at speed and scale, and this is an exciting combination.”
QSee™ quality control suite by Bruker
Bruker also launches the QSee quality control (QC) suite of software and reference materials for automated evaluation of instrument performance and long-term monitoring via cloud-based TwinScape™ software. In partnership with Polymer Factory Sweden AB, the leading manufacturer of stable polymer-based mass spectrometry calibrants, the SpheriCal® platform has been extended to include the new QSee 8-mix for assessment of chromatographic and mass spectrometry performance. Results are archived for comparison across time using the TwinScape cloud-based solution already available for proteomics.
Dr. Christoph Trautwein, Director of the Core Facility Metabolomics at University of Tübingen, commented: “By integrating QSee Performance Testing into our lab routine, we’re conveniently benchmarking our LC-TIMS-MS system performance before each experiment. The slim and intuitive workflow makes this a straightforward check, and the results provide assurance and ‘peace of mind’ that we’re consistently producing high quality quantitative data. Confidence in our analytical results has never been higher, thanks to this comprehensive solution. It’s truly a QC game-changer for our metabolomics lab.”
Source: Businesswire