Development of ionization and fragmentation methods for mass spectrometry of lipids

Lipidomics is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field that focuses on the study of the structure, function, and interactions of lipid molecules in biological systems. The knowledge gained through lipidomic research can significantly contribute to the development of new therapeutics, biomarkers, and diagnostic tools for metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, lipids represent a highly complex class of biomolecules characterized by numerous isobars and isomers, which makes their structural characterization challenging. In addition, the complexity of biological matrices, low analyte concentrations, and limited sample amounts further complicate the analysis. Over the past few decades, substantial progress has been made in developing advanced analytical techniques, and innovation in this area continues to advance rapidly. The aim of this thesis is to develop new ionization and fragmentation techniques that will contribute to the advancement of lipidomic methodologies. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) are still commonly used techniques for the ionization of neutral lipids. In contrast to electrospray ionization their miniaturized versions operating at low flow rates are not yet available. One of the aims of this work...