The MASSMET platform is an analytical platform applying mass spectrometry analysis to small metabolites and to compounds of biological or pharmaceutical interest.
The platform provides a support in analytical chemistry mainly through the development of chromatographic methods coupled to mass spectrometry detection, with a particular focus on the detection, identification and quantification of “small molecules” in complex matrices. As such, the expertise provided by the platform is important for numerous research groups within the LDRI and the “Health Sector”, as well as for research groups of the “Sciences and Technology Sector”.
To this aim, we share the use of analytical equipment located on the Brussels’ campus (mainly at the LDRI) and on the Louvain-la-Neuve’s campus (mainly at LIBST). The available equipment includes, among others:
- ThermoScientific LTQ – ORBITRAP –XL high resolution mass spectrometer
- Waters xevo TQS UPLCMS/MS
- Thermoscientific LCQ Advantage mass spectrometer
- ThermoScientific DSQ GC mass spectrometer
- Several chromatographic systems (HPLC, UPLC, GC) using UV, DAD, or FID detectors are also available.
Next year a new high-end Q-TOF mass spectrometer will be added to the available equipment thanks to a grant secured from the FRS-FNRS.
The relevance of the expertise of the MASSMET platform is shown by the numerous publications that benefited from the data obtained using the equipment and/or expertise of the platform. Examples of such studies involving LDRI research groups include the quantification of antibiotics from cell cultures (TFAR-FACM), the quantification of transcellular transport (ADDB –TFAR - PMGK), the quantification of endogenous metabolites from microorganisms, cells and tissues (BPBL – MNUT – TFAR-FACM), the identification of metabolites from plants (GNOS), the quantification of endogenous and exogenous metabolites in plasma (BPBL – ADDB – GNOS – TFAR - PMGK) and the determination of the nature and purity of compounds of synthetic origin (CMFA).