Университет Уорвика и Verdel Instruments внедрили двухмерную масс-спектрометрию в доступные лабораторные приборы

Advanced two-dimensional mass spectrometry becomes accessible on benchtop instruments Verdel Instruments and the University of Warwick bring two-dimensional mass spectrometry (2DMS) to benchtop Q-TOF systems, expanding access to advanced molecular analysis 14 Aug 2026 Researchers at the University of Warwick and spin-out company Verdel Instruments have demonstrated, for the first time, that two-dimensional mass spectrometry (2DMS) can be performed on a commercially available benchtop quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. This breakthrough, achieved using an upgrade kit makes high-resolution 2DMS practical and affordable for routine use in laboratories worldwide, transforming how scientists in healthcare, environmental safety, drug control and drug development analyze complex mixtures. Overcoming the limitations of conventional mass spectrometry workflows Modern mass spectrometry workflows typically rely on multiple steps to reduce sample complexity before measurement. Chromatography is used to separate components, acquisition methods filter signals and data processing pipelines simplify the resulting information. While these steps are essential, they inevitably lead to information loss, often without the analyst realizing which signals or relationships have been removed. The field has long recognized the power of 2DMS to capture richer structural and compositional information from complex samples. However, until now, the technique has required highly specialized, expensive hardware available only in a small number of well-funded centers. “The field has long recognized the power of 2DMS, but it has simply not been accessible – only the best-funded centers could afford the specialist hardware," said Tim Wilson, CEO of Verdel Instruments. "Our technology makes 2DMS possible on benchtop instruments, which are widely available. Any lab can now access this powerful technique.” Q-2DMS: Two-dimensional mass spectrometry on a Q-TOF platform In their paper1, the Verdel Instruments and University of Warwick team reports the first demonstration of 2DMS on a commercially available quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) instrument using an upgrade kit. The researchers refer to this implementation as Q-2DMS. The study shows that Q-2DMS can be used to obtain high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data directly from complex mixtures, without the need for chromatographic separation or mass filtering. This approach allows laboratories to retain and interrogate far more of the information present in their samples than is typically possible with conventional workflows. How Q-2DMS works The Q-2DMS method operates by assigning each analyte a unique frequency signature based on its mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio. During analysis, when these analytes fragment, the resulting product ions retain the original frequency signature of their precursor. A mathematical decoding process then uses these signatures to instantly determine which fragments originated from which analytes. What would normally appear as an unusable, overlapping set of signals is transformed into an ordered series of mass spectra, comparable to those obtained using traditional separation and filtering techniques, but now enriched with information that is often lost in conventional workflows. The published work demonstrates that Q-2DMS can preserve up to tenfold more usable spectral information when analysing closely related or near-isobaric compounds. This enhanced information content is particularly valuable when dealing with complex mixtures where subtle differences between analytes are critical. Enabling new applications across research and industry By making 2DMS available on benchtop Q-TOF instruments, the Verdel Instruments and University of Warwick team has opened up new possibilities across multiple application areas: - Healthcare: Faster identification of unexpected drug metabolites, supporting more personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes. - Environmental safety: Direct detection of emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), without pre-separation, accelerating water quality and environmental monitoring. - Drug control: Rapid characterization of novel synthetic drugs and designer compounds, aiding forensic laboratories and regulatory agencies. - Drug development: Discovery of unanticipated reaction products and impurities, helping pharmaceutical scientists better understand reaction pathways and product purity. Building on world-leading research at the University of Warwick Dr Shum Prakash, Business Development Manager at Warwick Innovations, highlighted the long-term research effort behind the new technology. “Years of world-leading research have led to Warwick spin-out Verdel Instruments launching Q-2DMS. It combines high-resolution, easy-to-use readouts with a complete time stamp of each sample, so researchers can revisit the data later without needing the original sample, which may have degraded." By preserving a complete time-stamped record of each analysis, Q-2DMS enables scientists to re-examine their data as new questions arise, without having to re-run precious or unstable samples. Opening new scientific questions with accessible 2DMS Peter O’Connor, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Warwick and senior author of the paper, emphasized the broader scientific impact of making 2DMS widely accessible. “What excites us most is what we don’t yet know. By making this technique accessible, we’re enabling scientists worldwide to ask questions they couldn’t ask before, and to find answers they weren’t necessarily looking for.” References 1. Wright S, Cassidy N, Colburn A, O’ Connor PB. Chromatography-Free Analysis of Mixtures Using a Two-Dimensional Mass Spectrometry (2DMS)-Enabled Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (QToF) Analyzer. Analytical Chemistry, May 5, 2026, volume 98, issue 17. Want the latest science news straight to your inbox? Become a SelectScience member for free today>> Links Tags Frequently asked questions Show frequently asked questions How does Q-2DMS on a benchtop Q-TOF mass spectrometer improve analysis of complex mixtures? Q-2DMS, developed by Verdel Instruments and the University of Warwick, enables two-dimensional mass spectrometry on a commercially available Q-TOF platform using an upgrade kit. It assigns unique frequency signatures to analytes, allowing direct high-resolution MS/MS analysis of complex mixtures without chromatography or mass filtering, preserving up to tenfold more usable spectral information. What are the key applications of Q-2DMS in healthcare, environmental safety, drug control, and drug development? Q-2DMS supports faster identification of unexpected drug metabolites in healthcare, direct detection of emerging contaminants like PFAS in environmental safety, rapid characterization of novel synthetic drugs in drug control, and discovery of unanticipated reaction products and impurities in drug development, helping scientists better understand complex mixtures and reaction pathways. Why is the Q-2DMS breakthrough from the University of Warwick and Verdel Instruments significant for routine 2D mass spectrometry? The Q-2DMS breakthrough makes high-resolution 2DMS practical and affordable by enabling it on widely available benchtop Q-TOF instruments. This removes the need for highly specialized, expensive hardware, preserves a complete time-stamped record of each analysis, and allows laboratories worldwide to revisit data and ask new scientific questions without re-running precious or unstable samples.