Method and system for detecting aerosol particles - Patents.com

Abstract

A system and method for identifying the composition of single aerosol particles, particularly bioaerosol particles, is disclosed. A continuous timing laser tightly coupled to a pulsed ionization laser is used to index the aerosol particles, measure the particle's properties, and trigger and fire the ionization laser as each particle enters the beam of the trigger laser. The ionization fragments and optional photons generated when the ionization laser hits each particle are analyzed using one or more detectors, including a TOF-MS detector and a photodetector. The individual single particle spectra are aligned and noise removed before averaging.

Description

Related Applications

[0001] This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 507,755, filed October 21, 2021, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AEROSOL PARTICLES," which is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT / US2020 / 040023, filed June 27, 2020, which is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 868,906, filed June 29, 2019, entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AEROSOL PARTICLES WITHOUT USE OF COMPLEX ORGANIC MALDI MATRIX," the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Not applicable. [Technical field]

[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods and devices that use mass spectrometry and one or more optical detection methods to provide highly accurate identification of aerosol analyte particles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods and devices for identifying biological aerosol analytes using, but not limited to, at least one of time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS), optical single particle sensors, and data analysis systems capable of identifying analyte particles using data fusion and machine learning methods of data generated from one or more sensors. [Background technology]

[0004] Threats from aerosolized biological and chemical threat agents remain a significant concern for the U.S. Government due to the potentially disastrous consequences to life and property that can result from such events. Two primary threat scenarios of particular concern are: (1) release of an agent within an enclosed structure (such as an office building, airport, or mass transit facility) where the HVAC system can effectively disperse the agent throughout the structure, and (2) widespread area release of the agent throughout a populated area such as a town or city. Exposure to a released aerosolized agent can lead to mass casualties. With releases over a widespread area, it is extremely difficult to protect citizens from initial exposure without timely information on the type, amount, and location of the contaminant. Methods and devices are needed to identify the composition of the threat agent in real time in order to take rapid corrective action. Samples of the airborne analyte aerosols can be captured using appropriate means such as filters, sampling bags, and other similar containments designed to capture respirable particles. Particles may also be removed from liquid samples obtained from wet-wall cyclones or similar devices that are then re-aerosolized. An example of a wet-wall cyclone is the SpinCon II (Innovaprep, Drexel, Missouri). Particles in these aerosols may include, but are not limited to, anthrax, Ebola virus, ricin, and botulinum toxin. All of these collection methods require additional processing to extract biological particles for analysis, resulting in delays of hours or days to detect and identify hazardous aerosols.

[0005] The aerosol particles analyzed need not be limited to particles found in ambient air. The aerosols analyzed may include exhaled particles (EBP) found in the exhaled breath of humans or animals. The amount of air exhaled during breathing of a healthy adult is typically 1-2 liters, which includes a normal tidal volume of about 0.5 liters. Humans generate exhaled particles (EBP) during various respiratory activities such as normal breathing, coughing, talking, and sneezing. EBP concentrations from mechanically ventilated patients during normal breathing may range from about 0.4 to about 2000 particles / breath or 0.001-5 particles / mL [1]. Furthermore, EBP may be less than 5 micrometers in size, with 80% of them in the range of 0.3-1.0 micrometers. The particle size distribution of exhaled breath has also been reported to be between 0.3 and 2.0 micrometers. The mean particle size of EBP may be less than 1 micrometer during normal breathing and 1-125 micrometers during coughing. Furthermore, 25% of people with pulmonary tuberculosis cough up between 3 and 600 CFU (colony forming units) of tuberculosis bacteria, with levels of this pathogen primarily ranging from 0.6 to 3.3 micrometers. These bacteria are rod-shaped, approximately 2 to 4 micrometers long and 0.2 to 0.5 micrometers wide.

[0006] Although solutions are available for detecting and analyzing aerosol analytes such as biological agents, real-time analysis is not possible. In one solution, microfluidic techniques are used to clean up the sample and concentrate the biological analytes. For example, specific antibodies can be used to concentrate and purify the biological analytes. This target-specific solution provides reasonable results, provided there is enough time for analyte cleanup and concentration. Other solutions are target-specific and only work for bacterial analytes at the expense of the analysis of viruses, toxins, or particulate chemicals. This method requires that a sample, for example from a patient, is applied to a bacterial culture plate and incubated for 8 to 24 hours. After the bacterial colonies grow, individual amplified and purified colonies are collected and measured by whole-cell MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. Many studies have investigated the accuracy of this technique and found more than 99% accurate identification of clinical bacterial analytes. Two commercial systems for rapid clinical bacterial identification have been developed, namely the Bruker Biotyper (sold by Becton Dickinson) and the Shimadzu Vitek MS (sold by bioMerieux). These systems provide superior diagnostic results compared to the "gold standard" of 16sRNA. However, to achieve these reliable clinical results, culture and / or extraction steps are required to purify the samples. Thus, the time from sampling to bioanalyte identification is typically 12 hours to more than a day. Although such delays are often tolerable in clinical laboratories, they are often unacceptable for other applications such as biodefense, where real-time identification of bioanalytes is required. Biodefense, and point-of-care healthcare applications, require the ability to simultaneously identify in real time not only bacteria but also large bio-organic molecules (e.g., proteins, peptides, lipids), including fungi, viruses, and biotoxins. Furthermore, reducing analysis times for clinical applications can improve quality and outcomes of care by enabling more timely treatment and identification of the best course of treatment (e.g., distinguishing viral from bacterial infections), and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment courses.

[0007] Real-time aerosol particle detection also has many commercial applications. For example, the headspace of a fermenter can be analyzed for possible contaminants. It is often desirable to know the microbial speciation in the air within a food or healthcare facility. Analyte particles may include microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, algae or fungi. Analyte particles may also include mixtures of microorganisms and proteins and peptides.

[0008] The generation of aerosol single particle MALDI mass spectrometry signatures is fundamentally different from signatures obtained from conventional MALDI or SELDI mass spectrometry, or other mass spectrometry methods that interrogate solid bulk samples (Figure 8). Conventional MALDI mass spectrometry extracts ions from a bulk sample that contains a large number of particles, typically on the order of 1,000. These particles may contain potential pathogens of interest, such as bacteria or viruses, constituents characteristic of the pathogen, such as proteins, peptides, and lipids, reagents (e.g., MALDI matrix), and contaminants (environmental materials, human-related materials and by-products, such as sputum from exhaled breath and cough samples). As shown in Figure 8, these particles of interest are dispersed throughout the sample and are mixed with other particles, such as environmental contaminants. The spatial distribution of particles within the bulk sample results in a distribution of distances and flight times (to the detector) of ions generated from the sample when the sample is subjected to an ionizing laser.

[0009] Ion diffusion can be reduced to some extent by the design of the ion source region, for example by employing methods such as delayed extraction or two-stage extraction. Furthermore, to reduce noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio, multiple laser shots are usually performed and the spectra from each shot are averaged. Although averaging reduces the noise associated with the spectrometer and improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the peaks, it does not reduce the variability due to sample inhomogeneity. Attempts to remove noise and align characteristic peaks using individual measurements and average spectra have shown that better results are obtained using the average spectrum (Morris et al.). This is because each bulk sample is composed of particles of various configurations, and a single measurement from these particles produces ions associated with these different particles. Therefore, it is not useful to deconvolute mass signal components associated with individual particles during conventional mass analysis of bulk samples. Similar challenges are seen when deconvoluting signal components associated with individual particles from aerosolized samples.

[0010] What is needed is a method and system for deconvoluting spectra associated with complex bulk or aerosol samples by measuring the mass spectra of individual particles in the sample. What is also needed is a method and apparatus for rapid (or real-time) analysis and identification of aerosol analyte particles, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, toxins, etc., with high accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0011] An exemplary system for identifying a composition of aerosolized particles is disclosed, the system comprising: an aerosol beam generator generating a beam of single particles; a continuous timing laser generator generating a timing laser for indexing each particle in the beam; a pulsed ionization laser generator configured to generate at least one of an IR laser pulse and a UV laser pulse triggered by the continuous timing laser to strike each indexed particle as it enters an ionization region of the pulsed ionization laser; a guide tube having an exit end disposed between the aerosol beam generator and the ionization region, the guide tube urging the particles to flow in a substantially linear manner within the guide tube toward the ionization region of the pulsed laser; and at least one detector analyzing at least one of an ionization fragment and a photon associated with each particle to generate unique spectral data associated with each indexed particle. The ionization region may be between about 100 μm and 150 μm in size. The guide tube may have a nominal inner diameter that is about twice the size of the ionization region. The guide tube may have a nominal length between about 1 inch and about 5 inches. The guide tube may have a nominal length of about 2 inches to about 3 inches. The guide tube may be made of stainless steel. The distance between the exit end of the guide tube and the ionization region may be about 0.135 inches. Each of the ionized fragments may have a molecular weight of about 1 kDa to about 150 kDa. The at least one detector may include at least one of a TOF-MS detector, a fluorescence detector, a LIBS detector, and a Raman spectrometer. Each of the continuous timing laser and the pulsed ionization laser may be characterized by a centerline, and the distance between the centerline of the continuous timing laser and the centerline of the pulsed ionization laser may be about 50 μm. The system may further include a plurality of ion extraction stages having a plurality of electrodes and lenses configured to accelerate the ionized fragments generated in the ionization region toward the detector.The method may further include a data analysis system that uses data fusion to compile unique spectral data associated with each particle to generate compiled single particle spectral data. The method may further include a machine learning engine disposed in data communication with the data analysis system.

[0012] An exemplary method of identifying the composition of aerosol particles is disclosed, comprising: arranging a continuous timing laser beam and a pulsed ionizing laser beam to overlap one another; generating an aerosol particle beam, the aerosol particles flowing in a guide tube in a substantially straight line toward an ionization region of a pulsed ionizing laser; firing a pulsed ionizing laser as each particle enters the continuous timing laser beam, the pulsed ionizing laser firing step generating an ionized fragment of each particle and a photon associated with each particle when a laser pulse from the pulsed ionizing laser strikes each particle in the ionization region; analyzing at least one of the ionized fragment of each particle and the photon associated with each particle using at least one detector; and determining a composition of each particle. A distance between a centerline of the continuous timing laser beam and a centerline of the pulsed ionizing laser beam may be about 50 μm. The exemplary method may further comprise indexing each particle in the aerosol particle beam using the continuous timing laser beam to obtain a plurality of indexed particles. The exemplary method may further include measuring at least one characteristic of each indexing particle, including at least one of particle size, particle shape, and fluorescence, using the continuous timing laser. The exemplary method may further include selecting which indexed particles to analyze by triggering a pulsed ionization laser when at least one characteristic of the indexed particle meets a predetermined threshold for that characteristic. The determining of the composition may include: generating a plurality of single particle spectra using a TOF-MS detector; aligning each single particle spectrum; denoising each aligned single particle spectrum; averaging the aligned and denoised plurality of single particle spectra; and comparing the averaged spectrum to a reference spectrum.The step of aligning each of the single particle spectra can include: selecting one or more mass ranges based on a priori information related to the location of the mass ranges of interest; selecting one spectrum for each mass range as a reference spectrum, the reference spectrum having at least one of a preselected spectrum, a spectrum present in a reference data library, and a spectrum developed using the measured single particle spectrum dataset; and shifting a peak window of the spectral dataset to align with a corresponding window of the reference spectrum in the time domain. The step of selecting one spectrum as a reference spectrum developed using the measured dataset can include: selecting a plurality of measured single particle spectra; calculating a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) for each spectral data file by cross-correlation with each other spectrum in the dataset and recording the average PCC score of the files; and selecting the spectrum with the highest PCC score as the reference spectrum. The aligned single particle spectra can be denoised using a single value decomposition technique (SVD). The determining of the composition may further include at least one of: comparing the averaged spectral data to a training spectral dataset knowledge base to predict the composition; updating the training dataset knowledge base; and using machine learning methods to improve prediction of the composition over time. The machine learning methods may include supervised machine learning methods.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description and the annexed drawings which describe and illustrate different aspects of the present disclosure, and in part will be learned by those skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings or by the practice of the present disclosure. The advantages of the present disclosure will be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for single particle aerosol analysis. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary method for single particle aerosol analysis using simultaneous dual wavelength (IR and UV) particle absorption to generate information-rich biological ions. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary method for single particle aerosol analysis using hydroxyl group IR absorption as a specific infrared MALDI matrix to generate information rich ions. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a schematic workflow for the identification of tuberculosis biomarkers using machine learning approaches. [Diagram 5] Figure 5 shows the weighted principal component analysis (PCA) of the signals acquired from positive and negative ion modes of TB and non-TB samples. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows significance analysis of microarray (SAM) based feature selection using signals extracted from anions of tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis samples. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the support vector machine (SVM) analysis for optimal feature selection in positive and negative ion modes for TB and non-TB samples. [Figure 8] Figure 8. Schematic showing data acquisition using MALDI mass spectrometry of bulk samples. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram of an analytical system having an exemplary particle guide tube (B). [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B illustrates an exemplary particle guide tube. [Figure 9C] FIG. 9C is a diagram showing the close coupling of the trigger laser beam and the ionizing laser beam. [Figure 9D]FIG. 9D is a trigger laser timing diagram showing the rising edge where an ionization laser is triggered by a particle entering the trigger laser beam. [Figure 9E] FIG. 9E is a schematic diagram of single-stage ion extraction in TOFMS. [Figure 9F] FIG. 9F is a schematic diagram of two-stage ion extraction in TOFMS. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A shows a single particle spectrum of B. globigii. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B shows the average of 453 single particle mass spectra confirming the expected Bg signature of B. globigii. [Figure 11A-B] FIG. 11A shows an exemplary workflow for processing MALDI MS spectra from solid bulk samples, and FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary data processing method for processing TOFMS aerosolized single particle spectra. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C is a schematic diagram for selecting a reference spectrum from an exemplary data set using the Pearson correlation coefficient method. [Figure 11D] FIG. 11D shows a procedure for determining the singular values ​​from the SVD. [Figure 12A] FIG. 12A illustrates the alignment and noise removal of individual Bg spectra. [Figure 12B] FIG. 12B shows the alignment and denoising of integrated Bg spectra.

[0015] All reference numbers, identifiers, and callouts in the figures are incorporated herein by this reference as if fully set forth herein. Failure to number elements in the figures is not intended as a waiver of any rights. Unnumbered references may also be identified by the alphabetical letter of the figure or appendix.

[0016] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosed systems and methods may be practiced. These embodiments, which should be understood as "examples" or "options," are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0017] In this disclosure, aerosol generally refers to a suspended phase of particles dispersed in air or gas. "Real-time" analysis of aerosol generally refers to analytical methods and devices that identify aerosol analytes within minutes of the aerosol sample being analyzed being introduced into the analytical device or system. The singular term (equivalent to the English terms "a" or "an") is used to include one or more, and the term "or" is used to refer to a non-exclusive "or" unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, it is to be understood that expressions or terms used herein and not otherwise defined are for purposes of description only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise specified in this disclosure, for purposes of interpreting the scope of the term "about," the error range associated with the disclosed values ​​(dimensions, operating conditions, etc.) is ±10% of the value stated in this disclosure. The error range associated with values ​​disclosed as percentages is ±1% of the stated percentage. The word "substantially" used before certain words includes the meanings "to a significant extent of what is specified" and "to most but not all of what is specified." Detailed Description

[0018] Particular aspects of the invention are described in some detail below for purposes of explaining the composition, principles, and operation of the disclosed methods and systems, however, various modifications may be made and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exemplary aspects described.

[0019] In an exemplary system 100 (FIG. 1), aerosol particles, e.g., particles containing airborne biological material, are directed at a rate of thousands of particles per second into a suitable inlet element 101 that removes debris and material from the particles, and flow into an aerosol beam generator 102 that collimates the particles into a narrow beam of single particles. The beam generator utilizes differential pumping to reduce the pressure to a level compatible with high vacuum in a chamber 104. The particles may be indexed using a continuous laser from a laser generator 103 (e.g., commercially available laser scattering devices, including but not limited to IBAC and Polaran systems). Additionally, the continuous laser can be used to determine particle size, fluorescence (autofluorescence), and polarization (particle shape) to identify particles of particular interest. The particles then travel through a series of focusing lenses into a vacuum chamber 104. This chamber can house an advanced time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) 106 and, optionally, collection optics 107. As each indexed particle enters the center of the chamber 104, it is hit with a high power laser pulse from the laser generator 108. Aerosol mass analysis requires the ionization laser 108 to fire when an aerosol particle enters the region illuminated by the laser (typically less than 150 microns in diameter). Because the ionization laser 108 fires pulses less than 5 ns (nanoseconds) in duration, advanced knowledge is required to predict when a particle will enter the ionization region and trigger the laser 108. Multiple lasers are used to measure and track particles to make it possible to predict the time a particle will enter the field of view of the laser. In an exemplary system, at least one of the lasers from the generator 103 and the laser from the laser generator 112 can be used to index and detect particles as they leave the beam generator 102. Because both laser beams 108 and 112 are closely aligned, the trigger laser 112 is sufficient to predict the path of a single aerosol particle and trigger the ionization laser 108, greatly reducing the complexity of the particle timing hardware. The laser 108 may also be triggered using a laser from the generator 103 .The laser 108 may be triggered only if at least one of the particle size, shape, and fluorescence meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold for that characteristic. When monitoring the composition of aerosol particles in the ambient air at periodic intervals, the selective triggering of the laser 108 in this manner, and the subsequent examination of the ionized fragments of each particle and analysis of the collected data, may be controlled (or adjusted) to avoid redundant data collection and data management. The timing (or triggering) laser 112 may also be used to measure the optical properties (size, shape, and fluorescence) of the particles. These measurements may be used to select particles to be ionized, and the data may be combined with mass spectrometry measurements and other optical information obtained during ionization for analysis in the data analysis system 110 using data fusion methods. The intensity of the laser pulse from the generator 108 may be adjusted so that the particles are broken down to produce ions from their constituent biochemical components. That is, the laser vaporizes and ionizes at least a portion of the analyte molecules, producing ions of a specific mass-to-charge ratio (m / z). These information-rich ions are accelerated to the TOF-MS 106 where they are analyzed. Furthermore, when analyte particles absorb sufficient light energy from the laser beam, they emit characteristic photons as they transition from a high-energy state to a low-energy state. The emission may also be associated with transitions between vibrational states. The interaction of the particles with the high-power laser pulses generated by the generator 108 may also induce transient optical features such as higher order fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman and infrared spectra. The chamber 104 may also include collection optics 107. The unique spectral data associated with each particle and generated using the TOF-MS and optical sensor 109, as well as the particle-specific data (e.g., particle size, shape, fluorescence) from the laser devices 103 and 112 may undergo data processing, including data fusion in the data analysis system 110, to generate compiled spectral data associated with each particle. The compiled spectral data may be compared to a training data set that includes a knowledge base of known biological material spectra to predict composition.The system 110 is in data communication with a machine learning engine 111, allowing it to update its knowledge base of training data sets and improve composition predictions from moment to moment. The pressure in the chamber 104 is reduced to at least 10-5 Torr using a vacuum pump 105. In the exemplary system 100, the travel time (or residence time) of a particle from the beam generator 102 to being struck by the laser 108 is less than about 1 second.

[0020] In an exemplary method 200 (FIG. 2), individual aerosol particles 201 in the aerosol beam or stream can be simultaneously exposed in step 202 to an infrared (IR) laser pulse with a wavelength between about 1.0 micrometer and about 1.2 micrometer and a UV laser pulse with a wavelength between about 250 nm and about 400 nm. The advantage of analyzing bioaerosol particles one particle at a time is that each particle represents a "pure sample" of the constituent proteins and other high molecular weight molecules within the particle. In the case of a single airborne bacterium, it represents a "pure culture" of that one organism. The wavelengths of the IR laser pulse and the UV laser pulse can be about 1.06 micrometer and about 355 nm, respectively. For example, a frequency tripled (or quadrupled) Nd:YAG laser can be modified to generate IR laser pulses with wavelengths between about 1.0 micrometer and about 1.2 micrometer and UV laser pulses with wavelengths between about 250 nm and about 400 nm. The rapid heating of the aerosol particles when exposed to an IR pulse can effectively "pop open" or instantly explode each particle, producing a large number of molecules 203 (small ionized fragments and larger fragments) characteristic of each particle. 2 to about 150MW / cm 2 At high IR laser power densities of , pyrolysis produces small ions with molecular weights less than about 1 kDa, typically less than 500 Da (hard ionization), reducing the information content of the resulting spectrum. 2 to about 20MW / cm 2Reducing the UV pulse to 1000 Hz (soft ionization) reduces the pyrolysis effect and may produce larger biomolecular fragments from the aerosol particles. The repetition rate (pulse frequency or number of pulses per second) of the IR laser is typically in the 1 kHz range, and the pulse width (duration of the IR pulse) is between about 1 nanosecond (ns) and about 10 ns. However, it has not been effective to ionize these exposed biomolecules using only IR laser pulses. The UV pulse interacts with the inherent UV chromophores of the particles (the parts of the molecules that absorb UV light) to produce large bioions of a specific mass-to-charge ratio (m / z) for mass spectrometer analysis. There is no need to add a complex organic matrix-assisted laser desorption / ionization (MALDI) matrix. The MALDI process requires a sample processing step in which another chemical (in a solvent) coats the sample before analysis by TOF MS. Method 200 eliminates the need for this complex sample processing step while still producing large informative ions, especially in the case of biological aerosol particles. These ions can be analyzed using a high mass range TOF-MS in step 204, which can analyze ions having molecular weights between about 1 kDa and about 150 kDa. The resulting spectra can be analyzed with data fusion and machine learning methods to improve the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity associated with identifying analyte particles. Method 200 is particularly suited when the analyte aerosol is composed of UV chromophores and the many exogenous compounds in the growth medium that tend to absorb UV light. UV chromophores include, but are not limited to, molecules such as dipicolinic acid (e.g., as found in bacterial spore coatings), amino acids containing phenyl groups (e.g., tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine), and the like. The exemplary system 100 can be used to perform method 200.

[0021] Aerosol analyte particles collected from ambient air typically contain significant amounts of water. There is a strong association of water with background atmospheric particles, especially those containing biopolymers such as proteins and DNA. In bacterial cells, lipopolysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and glycans may account for only about 10% of the dry weight of the vegetative cell. In addition, many other compounds associated with biological particles contain large amounts of hydroxyl groups that have the same strong laser interactions as water. The water associated with all particles sampled from the atmosphere (ambient humidity / moisture) may be used as a laser absorbing matrix for single particle TOF-MS. The ubiquitous presence of water on atmospheric aerosol particles provides a mechanism for ion generation across a wide range of masses. As previously explained, in the exemplary system 100, the travel time (or residence time) of a particle from the beam generator 102 to being struck by the laser 108 is less than about 1 second. This short residence time allows for the analysis of IR chromophores in the exemplary method 300. As a result of this short transit time, the particles as water or hydroxyl groups already strongly bound to the surface of the particles 310 as a thin film (e.g., monolayer) or contained therein do not evaporate but are available for strong interaction with the IR laser pulse in step 302. Biological materials typically contain a high concentration of molecules that contain infrared-active hydroxyl groups. In fact, all cellular interactions in the body involve specific interactions between carbohydrate molecules that decorate the surface and are present throughout the cellular material. Furthermore, typical preparations of biological materials are often contaminated with growth media such as agar. These materials (IR chromophores) strongly absorb IR radiation due to their high content of hydroxyl groups. The IR laser pulses may have a wavelength between about 2.7 micrometers and about 3.3 micrometers. The wavelength of the IR pulses may be about 2.94 micrometers. The repetition rate of the IR laser is typically in the range of 1 kHz and the pulse width may be between about 40 microseconds and about 100 microseconds. The IR laser power density is about 1 MW / cm. 2 to about 20MW / cm 2The overlap between the infrared absorption of hydroxyl-containing molecules such as water, carbohydrates, and agar and the IR laser line is also shown in FIG. 3. The IR laser pulse can be generated using an Er:YAG laser module sold by Pantec Biosolutions AG (Rugell, Liechtenstein). An Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) can also be used. The strong interaction between the laser pulse and the particles produces ions 303 over a wide range of masses. These ions can be measured using a high mass range TOF-MS in step 304, which can analyze ions with molecular weights between about 1 kDa and about 150 kDa. The small amount of strongly bound surface water contained within the particles and the natural association of water molecules, combined with the short residence time in vacuum, provide the opportunity to generate large molecular fragments (1 kDa to 150 kDa molecular weight) and highly informative mass spectra, without the need for other MALDI chemical reagents. Thus, method 300 allows for rapid detection of aerosol particles with high (>80%) accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Method 300 avoids the need to freeze the particles using liquid nitrogen or other means to freeze surface water and use a thin film of frozen water as a matrix for MALDI TOF-MS. It also avoids the need for more complicated methods such as using a water droplet generator (diameter about 50 microns) to generate water droplets and introduce them into the vacuum chamber of the TOF-MS, or using an acoustic levitation device to generate droplets of water or solvent (e.g., 50 vol.-% methanol in aqueous solution) that are about 2 mm in diameter and result in soft evaporation / ionization [3]. The generation of large molecular fragments may also be improved by treating the aerosol particles with a spray of water or a solvent-water mixture prior to ionization using an IR laser pulse. Organic solvents may be used, including at least one of methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol.

[0022] If the aerosol particles include non-biological particles and it is desired to identify the chemical composition of the particles, analysis of these particles can be performed by hard ionization to produce small ions. For this purpose, a power of about 20 MW / cm 2 to about 150MW / cm 2 Methods 200 and 300 may be modified to allow switching between hard ionization, which produces fragments with molecular weights less than 1 kDa, typically less than 500 Da, and soft ionization, which produces fragments with molecular weights typically greater than 1 kDa.

[0023] In the exemplary method described above, individual aerosol analyte particles are indexed and tracked using at least one continuous laser prior to ionization. Additionally, the continuous laser can be used to measure particle characteristics such as size and shape. Individual particles are indexed and tracked to enable data fusion of mass spectral data associated with each particle with optical properties of each particle. These optical properties can include the particle's size, shape, and polarization. Indexing allows the mass spectral data collected after ionization of each particle to be associated with each particle. The large amount of data associated with each particle in the aerosol beam can then be filtered and analyzed using the data fusion protocols of the data analysis system 110 to identify the composition and type of the particle in real time with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Data fusion is defined as the combination of data from multiple sources to obtain improved information in terms of cheaper, higher quality, or more relevant information. A review of data fusion techniques is provided by Castanedo [2], which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0024] In the exemplary methods 200 and 300, in addition to TOF-MS mass spectrometry, one or more optical detection methods can also be used because when an analyte aerosol particle absorbs sufficient optical energy from a laser pulse, it transitions from a high-energy state to a low-energy state and emits transient optical photons, such as higher order fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, etc. Thus, in addition to mass spectrometry, an optical sensor / detector 109 can be used to identify the composition of the aerosol particles. Measurement data collected using both TOF-MS and optical sensors can be processed using data fusion techniques to provide information about the composition of the aerosol analytes. By collecting information from various detectors, including one or more optical techniques and mass spectrometry, data fusion protocols can be used to filter and analyze data associated with each particle to rapidly (near real-time) identify the composition and type of the particle with high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. For each indexed aerosol particle, data from each measurement, including at least one of TOF-MS, LIBS, Raman spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy, can be transferred to a sensor data fusion engine 108, where artificial intelligence tools such as machine learning and deep learning can be used to fully characterize the particle.

[0025] In LIBS, a laser pulse (e.g., from a high-energy Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of about 1064 nm) is focused on a particle to ablate a small amount of the particle and create a plasma. The analyte particles are broken down (dissociated) into ionic and atomic species. When the plasma cools, the characteristic atomic emission lines of the elements can be observed using an optical detector, such as a CCD detector. Another exemplary optical detection tool is Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy provides information about molecular vibrations that can be used to identify and quantify the sample. This technique involves focusing a laser beam (e.g., a UV laser source with a wavelength of about 330 to about 360 nm) on the sample and detecting the inelastically scattered light. Most of the scattered light is at the same frequency as the excitation source, known as Rayleigh or elastic scattering. Due to the interaction of the incident electromagnetic wave with the vibrational energy levels of the molecules in the sample, a very small amount of the scattered light is shifted in energy from the laser frequency. Plotting the intensity versus frequency of this "shifted" light gives the Raman spectrum of the sample. In fluorescence spectroscopy, analyte molecules are excited by irradiation at specific wavelengths and emit radiation of different wavelengths. The emission spectrum provides both qualitative and quantitative analytical information. When light of the appropriate wavelength is absorbed by a molecule, the electronic state of the molecule changes from a ground state to one of many vibrational levels in one of the excited electronic states. Once the molecule is in this excited state, relaxation can occur through several processes. Fluorescence is one of these processes, resulting in the emission of light. By analyzing the various frequencies of light emitted in fluorescence spectroscopy and their relative intensities, the chemical structures associated with the various vibrational levels can be determined. Certain amino acids in biological samples, such as tryptophan, have high fluorescence quantum efficiencies, which is advantageous for the use of fluorescence spectroscopy to identify these amino acids.

[0026] Machine learning (ML) techniques for analyzing the acquired and collected spectral data using the machine learning engine 111 provide a significant improvement over manual data processing for analyte identification, which is slow and labor-intensive. Machine learning is generally a subset of artificial intelligence and consists of algorithms whose performance improves over time through data analysis. Supervised machine learning techniques may be used. Supervised learning consists of the task of learning a function that maps inputs to outputs based on examples of input-output pairs. The function is inferred from labeled training data consisting of a set of training examples. Machine learning also includes deep learning methods, which are unsupervised learning methods that can identify signatures in complex data sets without the need to identify specific features in advance. Unsupervised machine learning methods and semi-supervised (hybrid methods of supervised and unsupervised learning) can also be used. Unsupervised learning methods may include types of learning that help find previously unknown patterns in a data set without existing labels. Two exemplary methods used in unsupervised learning are principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Cluster analysis is used in unsupervised learning to group or segment data sets with shared attributes in order to infer algorithmic relationships. Cluster analysis is a branch of machine learning that groups data that has not been labeled, classified, or categorized. Cluster analysis identifies commonalities in the data and reacts based on the presence or absence of such commonalities in each new piece of data. This approach is useful for detecting anomalous data points. Unsupervised learning methods can be used for anomaly detection. This helps identify previously unknown hazards. For example, air samples can be analyzed periodically to measure the composition of particles in the air and identify particle characteristics (e.g., size, shape, fluorescence, etc.) and spectra associated with the particles to obtain baseline data information for particles in "normal" ambient air. Particles in the air following an event, such as a release of a biological threat agent into the atmosphere, will deviate from the baseline data, providing particle characteristic data and spectral data that highlights the anomaly (as evidenced by an anomalous spectrum) and an opportunity to take necessary corrective action to mitigate the threat.The compiled spectral data, as described above, can be compared to a training dataset that includes a knowledge base of known biological material spectra to predict particle composition. The system 110 can be in data communication with a machine learning engine 111 to enable updating the knowledge base of training datasets to improve prediction of composition over time. Mass spectra of biological materials cover a range approximately three orders of magnitude larger than mass spectra of chemicals, significantly complicating the application of automated techniques.

[0027] Additionally, environmental contaminants can reduce signal intensity by competing with the target during the ionization process (competitive ionization). This introduces a signature component (clutter) that must be deconvoluted with the target signature. Current automated methods are mostly limited to searching for very pure targets in samples without environmental clutter. The disclosed exemplary method eliminates competitive ionization by physically separating the target analyte from the clutter, eliminating signature ambiguity (each event is assumed to be either target or clutter). An exemplary ML schematic 400 for identifying tuberculosis (TB) biomarkers using high-resolution mass spectrometry is shown in FIG. 4. A high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometer (ThermoFisher Scientific) was used in step 401 to acquire (or extract) positive and negative ion signals containing thousands of features. A mass ratio exceeding a 5:1 signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was selected. Weighted principal component analysis (PCA), an unsupervised dimensionality reduction algorithm, was used in step 402 to reduce the large set of signals to two components. PCA provided a 2D visualization, which was used to investigate whether the extracted signals reveal essential differences between the two classes of samples (TB and non-TB). Figure 5 shows the output of PCA of the extracted signals in positive and negative ion mode from 19 sputum-positive TB patients and 17 non-TB patients. The positive and negative ion signals were collected from two groups of samples, namely non-TB patients and TB patients. The PCA results revealed that the samples from each group tended to cluster together. This suggests that the extracted signals collected from high resolution mass spectrometry can be used to distinguish between the two classes of samples. Step 402 can also be used to analyze the data collected from methods 200 and 300 using TOF-MS.

[0028] In method 400, Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) technique was also applied in step 403 to the signals extracted in step 401 to identify strongly discriminatory features and to select the most powerful features for distinguishing the two classes of samples. SAM is a feature selection algorithm designed to process big data sets and identify the most powerful features between the two classes of samples. The SAM analysis returned a feature ranking list based on the change in abundance, statistical significance, and false positive rate. The features identified by SAM were optimized in step 404 using a Support Vector Machine (SVM). SVM is a supervised machine learning based classifier that uses a training data set to define a separating hyperplane so that unknown samples can be classified according to aspects of the separating hyperplane. The advantage of SVM relies on its ability to process high dimensional data to predict the composition of analytes and continuously improve the knowledge base contained in the training data set.

[0029] As an example, SAM-based feature selection using signals extracted from negative ions is shown in Figure 6. The data has features classified into three classes: (A) up-regulation, (B) down-regulation, and (C) insignificant. Higher signals (up-regulation) in tuberculosis (TB) patients than in non-tuberculosis (non-TB) patients are represented by region A, while region B is represented by lower signals (down-regulation) in tuberculosis patients. Overall, over 1500 features (ion signals) extracted from positive ion mode and over 500 features extracted from negative ion mode were found to be higher in tuberculosis patients. SVM analysis was then performed to optimize the number of features. This analysis showed that thousands of signals compared to a relatively small number of subjects (training dataset) showed the potential to identify tuberculosis-related signals. As a classification algorithm, SVM can be used to optimize the features selected by SAM by returning a confusion matrix that calculates the percentages of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. As shown in Figure 7, in positive ion mode, the best performance of SVM-based classification existed when approximately 300 selected features were applied. In negative ion mode, the best performance of SVM-based classification was found when approximately 100 selected features were applied. These methods were able to distinguish between TB and non-TB patients with 89% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 81% specificity. Using the above exemplary analytical method, multiple TB biomarkers were identified using lipid extraction and high-resolution mass spectrometry of patient samples collected in Masiphumelele, South Africa.

[0030] To identify the presence of biological threat agents in the air, air samples can be collected at predefined time intervals and analyzed using the exemplary methods disclosed above to generate a historical data set (training data set) of background / baseline information in the data analysis system 110. The analysis can be improved over time using machine learning algorithms executed in the engine 111. The variations in the background information can be modeled to map the normal behavior of the air in the protected area. When a release of biological, biochemical, or chemical aerosol particles is suspected, sampling the air using the exemplary methods above provides information that deviates from the past background information. The first indication of the presence of such a threat is a sharp deviation from the normal background. At this stage, an algorithmic decision can be made regarding the composition of the individual particles. Thus, rapid corrective action can be taken to protect and prevent loss of life.

[0031] The exemplary methods and devices disclosed above may also be used for the analysis of liquid samples. In this case, an aliquot of the sample may be aerosolized using appropriate means. For example, a nebulizer may be used to aerosolize a liquid sample in air. The analyte particles may also be extracted from a swab or may be in the form of a solid sample that may be dissolved using an appropriate solvent. An aliquot of the sample may then be aerosolized using appropriate means. For example, a nebulizer may be used to aerosolize a liquid sample in air. The exemplary methods and devices disclosed may be used to identify viruses and toxins in addition to bacteria in real time. By analyzing the data collected from one or more optical detectors and mass spectrometry, a biological fingerprint of the analyte particles may be obtained in real time.

[0032] The disclosed exemplary method obviates the need to use complex sample processing steps associated with MALDI TOF-MS while still producing large informative ions, especially in the case of biological aerosol particles. Additionally, the production of large molecular fragments can also be improved by treating the aerosol particles with a spray of water or a solvent-water mixture (e.g., in method 300) before ionizing them using an IR laser pulse. Organic solvents with at least one of methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol can be used. The MALDI process requires a sample processing step in which another chemical (usually a complex organic molecule in a solvent) coats the sample before analysis by TOF-MS. Methods 200 and 300 can be modified to allow for a MALDI matrix (a simple matrix such as an organic solvent) coating step. Combining MALDI technology with high mass range time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry allows for the direct analysis of large peptide components and even complete proteins allowing for "whole cell" biological identification. Applicant's international application PCT / US2016 / 48395, entitled "Coating Aerosol Particles Using an Acoustic Coater," describes conventional MALDI TOF mass spectrometry, provides examples of complex organic MALDI matrices, and discloses methods and devices for applying a coating of MALDI matrix solution to bioaerosol particles prior to analysis in an aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0033] An exemplary system 900 (FIGS. 9A-D) is disclosed for detecting and ionizing aerosolized single particles in complex aerosolized samples and optimizing the resolution and data processing of single particle mass spectra. Aerosol mass spectrometers such as those described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0116090, “System and Method for Determining Size and Chemical Composition of Aerosol Particles in Real Time,” disclose locating the exit of the aerosol beam generator away from the ionizing laser beam, which disperses the particle trajectories. The exemplary system 900 disclosed herein eliminates these deficiencies and significantly reduces particle losses in the system. Because the aerosolized particles are not attached to a fixed surface such as a sample plate, the spatial distribution of the particles during ionization affects the flight time to a detector 906 (such as a TOF-MS detector), which greatly impacts the resolution of single particle mass spectra. As shown in FIG. 9A, the aerosol beam generator 902 collimates the particles into a narrow beam of single particles. As the particles exit the beam generator 902, they are indexed using a continuous laser from a laser generator 903 (a commercially available diode laser such as a 532 nm diode pump laser, model CPS532, manufactured by Thor Labs). Additionally, the continuous laser 903' from the generator 903 can be used to determine at least one of particle size, fluorescence (autofluorescence if a UV laser is used), and polarization (particle shape) to identify particles of particular interest. Additionally, the continuous laser 903' from the laser generator 903 can be used to trigger an ionization laser generator 908 to generate a laser pulse 908' to ionize single particles that enter the ionization region of the ionization laser. The laser generator 908 is triggered only if at least one of the particle's size, shape, and fluorescence meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold for that characteristic. As each of the particles or indexed particles enter the ionization region, they are illuminated with a high power laser pulse 908' from the laser generator 908.In aerosol mass spectrometry, aerosol mass spectrometry requires that the ionization laser 908 is pulsed on as aerosol particles enter an ionization region illuminated by a pulsed laser (typically less than about 150 microns in diameter). Because the ionization laser 908 fires pulses less than 5 nanoseconds (ns) in duration, it requires advanced knowledge to predict when a particle will enter the ionization region and trigger the firing of the laser 908. The intensity of the laser pulse from the generator 908 can be adjusted so that each particle is broken down to produce ions from its constituent biochemical components. That is, the laser vaporizes and ionizes at least a portion of the analyte molecules to produce ions with a specific mass-to-charge ratio (m / z). These large, information-rich ions are accelerated to the detector 906 where they are analyzed. The time of flight of these particles and fragments that are detected (FIG. 9D) also depends on the initial position of the particle in the ionization region (FIG. 9A). Selective triggering of the laser 908 in this manner to monitor the composition of the generated aerosol particles, along with the use of guide tubes and data analysis methods described below, allows for optimal generation of ionized fragments of each particle and reliable and efficient data analysis that eliminates the collection of redundant data. The ionization region 909 (approximately the diameter of the pulsed laser beam 908') may typically be less than about 150 μm and about 100 μm in size, which is significantly larger than the typical thickness of the bulk sample shown in FIG. 8. The diameter of the trigger laser beam may range from about 150 μm to about 100 μm. Although conventional focusing methods such as two-stage extraction and delayed extraction help to correct for variations in the initial energy received by each ion, these methods cannot correct for variations in the position of individual particles. While this may not be a major issue in conventional MALDI MS analysis (or other types of mass analysis), optimizing the generation of fragments and ions from moving particles within the ionization region, regardless of the position of the individual particles within the ionization region 909, is a key requirement of aerosol MALDI MS analysis.

[0034] In one aspect, the guide tube 910 (FIG. 9B) is disposed between the exit of the aerosol beam generator 902 and the ionization region 909 to minimize the diffusion of particles as they traverse the distance from the exit of the aerosol beam generator 902 to the ionization region 909. Thus, the particle guide tube 910 helps to reduce the spatial distribution of particles between the aerosol beam generator 902 and the ionization region 909 (FIG. 9B). The nominal inner diameter of the guide tube 910 can be about 300 μm, which is at least twice the size of the ionization region. The nominal length of the guide tube 910 can be about 1 inch to about 5 inches. The nominal length of the guide tube can be about 2 inches to about 3 inches. The nominal length of the guide tube 910 can be about 2.7 inches. The guide tube 910 can be fabricated from any electrically conductive material, including, but not limited to, a metal, such as stainless steel. Without the guide tube 910, a significant number of particles would bypass the ionization region, reducing the sensitivity of the TOF-MS analysis system. The use of the guide tube 910 may reduce particle loss by approximately 3 to 5 times compared to a system without the guide tube 910. A conductive coating on the inner wall may further reduce particle loss by reducing particle adhesion to the walls of the stainless steel tube. The exit end 911 of the guide tube 910 may be positioned directly above the ionization region 909. The gap between the end 911 of the guide tube and the ionization region may be approximately 0.135 inches. Alternatively, the exit end 911 may be inserted into the ionization zone such that the end 911 does not obstruct the path of the laser beam from the generator 908. As each particle exits the guide tube 910 and enters the trigger beam 903', the trigger laser beam 903' activates the ionization laser generator 908 to strike the particle in the ionization region 909.

[0035] Additionally, in another aspect, the distance between the centerline 913 of the trigger laser beam 903' and the centerline 914 of the ionizing beam 908' can be minimized to about 50 μm (FIG. 9C) to improve the amount of debris and ions generated from the particle when struck by the ionizing laser beam. In this aspect, the entry point of the particle entering the trigger laser beam 903' (point 912 (FIG. 9C)) can be used to trigger the laser generator 908 to generate a pulsed ionizing laser beam 908' to strike each particle that enters the ionization region 909. This entry point can also be characterized by a rising edge of each particle's time-of-flight profile or trace (FIG. 9D). As previously mentioned, the ionization region 909 (diameter of the pulsed laser beam 908') can be less than about 150 μm in diameter and can be between about 100 μm and about 150 μm in diameter. The diameter of the trigger laser beam can also be between about 100 μm and about 150 μm in diameter. This tight coupling of the ionizing laser beam and the trigger laser beam as overlapping beams (FIG. 9C) maximizes the production of characteristic fragments and ions from each particle, improves the abundance of these fragments and ions, and increases the sensitivity associated with analysis using a TOF-MS detector. As previously mentioned, the molecular weight of each ionized fragment is about 100 Da to about 150 kDa. Furthermore, when the analyte particle absorbs sufficient light energy from the laser beam, it will emit a characteristic photon as it transitions from a high energy state to a low energy state, which can be detected using a photomultiplier tube (PMT). A PMT is an extremely sensitive light detector that provides a current output proportional to the light intensity. The interaction of the high power laser pulse 908' with the particle can also induce transient optical properties, such as higher order fluorescence, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman spectra, and infrared spectra. In other aspects, the beam diameter of the trigger beam can be different from the beam diameter of the ionizing beam. The beam diameter of the trigger laser beam can be smaller than the beam diameter of the pulsed ionizing beam.In another embodiment, the trigger beam and the ionization beam may be arranged as contiguous beams with one another, minimizing the distance between the centerlines of the beams.

[0036] In the exemplary method 1300, the ionizing laser generator 908 in the system 900 is triggered using the rising edge of the time-of-flight profile representing the point 912 where each particle enters the trigger laser beam (FIG. 9D). As can be seen, the rising edge of the time-of-flight profile in each case matches well with the rising edge of the elastic particle scattering profile obtained when the ionizing beam strikes each particle in the ionization region 909. Triggering the ionizing beam using the rising edge of the time-of-flight profile, or the entry point of each particle entering the laser beam, allows for rapid, reliable collision of particles with the pulsed ionizing laser beam and generation of sufficient amounts of fragments and ions that are characteristic of each particle. The exemplary method 1300 avoids the need to calculate complex velocity profiles of single particles as they flow between the trigger laser beam and the ionizing laser beam, and then perform velocity and time-of-flight calculations to initiate the ionizing laser. By not having to wait for the particle to exit the trigger laser beam, the method 1300 allows for a tighter coupling of the trigger laser 903′ and the ionizing laser 908′. Similar rising edges have been observed for particles of 1 μm, 2 μm, and 3 μm size, indicating that the use of the rising edge is not limited to a particular particle size.

[0037] In other aspects of the exemplary system 900, multi-stage ion extraction or delayed ion extraction can be utilized to reduce the dependence of the initial ionization energy on the position of the particle within the ionization laser. FIG. 9E shows a basic single stage ion source, where electrode grids V1 and V2 are set to voltages that create an electric field gradient to accelerate ions generated in the ionization region 909. The electrode grids are made of conductive materials, such as metals such as brass or stainless steel, and must provide sufficient electrical conductivity and material integrity under vacuum conditions. V3 and V4 are steering electrodes and are used to counteract the downward velocity component of the ions. V6, V7, and V8 are lenses that focus the ions as they flow along the ion path toward the detector. As the aerosolized particles exit the exemplary particle guide 910, they enter the trigger laser beam (nominal beam diameter between about 100 μm and about 150 μm) generated by the laser generator 903, and the ionization laser is fired as previously described in the exemplary method 1300. The ions generated in the ionization region 909 are accelerated between electrodes V1 and V2. A large potential difference (e.g., about 10 kV) between V1 and V2 is desirable, so that the equipotential lines in the ionization region 909 are densely packed. As a result, the position of the particle in the ionization region 909 when the laser is applied has a large effect on the initial potential and acceleration of the particle. Ions generated near electrode V2 are accelerated less than ions generated near electrode V1. Using a multi-stage ion extraction (e.g., two-stage extraction) can reduce the effect of the spread of these initial conditions, which causes loss of particle acceleration (Figure 9F). An intermediate electrode grid (V10) can be inserted between electrodes V1 and V2. Reducing the density of the equipotential lines between V1 and V10 reduces the variation in initial energy caused by the variation in the initial position of the particle in the sample when the ions are generated in the ionization region 909, and the potential difference between V2 and V10 provides the higher acceleration required for time-of-flight MS analysis.

[0038] The exemplary system 900 described above can improve signal-to-noise ratio and signal quality by using at least one of the following: tight coupling of the guide tube 910, trigger laser 903 and ionization laser 908, using the rising edge of the time-of-flight profile generated by each particle entering the trigger beam to initiate the ionization laser to strike each particle, and multi-stage extraction of ions generated in the ionization region 909. These exemplary hardware aspects significantly improve data quality and sensitivity of MS data analysis, while also utilizing in silico (computer) manipulation of individual spectra to correct for initial conditions during ionization (when the particle strikes the ionization laser 908 or other ionization source). An exemplary data analysis method 1100 (FIGS. 11A-D) is disclosed for processing single particle spectra aerosolized using the exemplary system 900. Because each pulsed ionization laser firing produces a spectral signature of an individual particle, the exemplary signal processing method 1100 can be used to align and denoise individual particle traces in step 1101 before computing the ensemble average in step 1102. Although several noise reduction and alignment methods have been proposed for the analysis of mass spectrometry data, averaging multiple spectra prior to noise reduction and alignment destroys information about the contributions and characteristics provided by individual particles. Analysis at the single particle level allows pre-processing of each spectrum prior to integration and peak identification in steps 1103 and 1104. Alignment of single particle spectra in step 1101 can include the following steps:

[0039] (a) Select a mass range to align. The mass range can be centered around the location of a potential biomarker or other region of interest. If there are multiple biomarkers, this process can be repeated for each mass range of interest.

[0040] (b) Select one spectrum as the reference for each specified window. The reference spectrum may be preselected, may exist in a reference data library, or may be developed using the measured mass spectral data set. A reference spectrum is created from the measured MS data set, and the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of each spectral data file is calculated compared to other spectra in the data set, and the average PCC of the files is recorded. The spectrum with the highest score is selected as the reference spectrum. A flow chart for selecting a reference spectrum from three measured single particle spectra is shown in FIG. 11C. This process can be extended to any number of individual spectra in the measured mass spectral data set. Additionally, correlation coefficients other than the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) can be used.

[0041] (c) A one-dimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT) method is used to align the peak windows of the MS spectral data set to those of the reference spectrum by cross-correlation. The alignment or peak shift is performed in the time domain.

[0042] (d) Shift each file according to cross-correlation with the reference file to create an aligned MS data set. Once each spectrum has been shifted and aligned with the reference spectrum, the spectral data may be denoised in step 1101. Although multiple denoising methods (such as wavelets) can be used, Single Value Decomposition (SVD) may be a useful tool in the exemplary method 1100. SVD is a low-rank approximation rather than a dimensionality reduction like PCA. The SVD denoising step may include the following steps:

[0043] (a) Calculate the SVD of the data within the selected data range.

[0044] (b) Denoising the aligned dataset using a low-rank approximation from SVD (Figure 11D).

[0045] Denoising is achieved by reconstructing the signal using the highest SVD values: in Fig. 11D, the denoised signal is reconstructed from the five largest SVD singular values. [example]

[0046] Example 1: Single particle spectrum of B. globigii using exemplary system 900

[0047] The exemplary system 900 consisted of a guide tube 910 positioned adjacent to the exit end of the aerosol beam generator and the ionization region of the ionization laser. The guide tube was constructed from stainless steel 316 tubing with an inner diameter of about 300 μm and a length of about 2 inches. The exit of the guide tube 911 was located about 0.135 inches away from the centerline of the trigger laser. The trigger laser beam was closely coupled to the ionization laser beam with a distance of about 50 μm between the centerlines of the trigger and ionization beams. The rising edge of the time-of-flight profile created by a particle entering the trigger laser beam from generator 903 (Figure 9D) was used to trigger the UV pulsed ionization laser generator 908, which irradiated the particle in the ionization region of the pulsed ionization laser. As shown in Figure 10A, multiple single particle detections were observed during the analysis of aerosolized B. globigii (Bg) particles. The UV laser irradiated the particle results in a single scan (line) as shown in Figure 10A. The horizontal axis indicates mass-to-charge ratio (m / z) and the vertical axis indicates particle index. A total of 453 individual particles were measured, with over 449 particles showing a response consistent with Bg. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10B, an average of 453 single particle scans clearly shows the characteristic BgTOF-MS signature.

[0048] Example 2: Data analysis of Bg spectra using exemplary data analysis method 1100

[0049] Figure 12A shows individual particle mass spectra of Bg before and after alignment of a mass window from about 1060 m / z to about 1100 m / z centered on the 1080 m / z peak and subsequent denoising. Alignment was performed for each potential marker position following step 1101. Since the mass (m / z) shifts of each marker are independent, it was necessary to align the regions of interest individually before calculating the peak positions and values. As can be seen, there are two large peaks (1060 m / z and 1080 m / z) in the selected mass range, which can be clearly seen in the aligned and denoised data. Next, the integrated spectrum shows a significant increase in the signal-to-noise ratio, as shown in Figure 12B. By filtering out data that are poorly correlated with the reference spectrum or have low intensity (cropped data), the noise floor can be further lowered, revealing a third weaker set of peaks centered around about 1095 m / z, barely discernible in the raw data (Figure 12A). Trimming removes spectra with low Pearson scores from the average, significantly lowering the noise floor. In MALDI MS and other mass spectral techniques, prior knowledge of peak locations is essential to accurately identify the composition of each particle. Furthermore, this method can reduce the uncertainty in peak locations to increase the observable signal. As previously described, machine learning tools and artificial intelligence methods can be used to optimize the exemplary data analysis methods disclosed herein. Exemplary machine learning methods can include comparing compiled spectral data to a training spectral dataset knowledge base to predict composition, updating the training dataset knowledge base, and using machine learning methods to improve prediction of composition over time. Exemplary machine learning methods can include supervised machine learning methods.

[0050] The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.FR § 1.72(b) to enable the reader to quickly determine the nature and gist of the technical disclosure from a general overview perspective, and is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

[0051] Although the present disclosure has been described in connection with preferred modes of carrying out the same, those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the disclosure, and therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the present disclosure be limited by the foregoing description.

[0052] It is also understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the essence of the present disclosure. Such modifications are implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It is understood that this disclosure is intended to yield patents covering many aspects of the disclosure, both independently and as a system as a whole, and in method and apparatus modes.

[0053] Moreover, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of ways, and the disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, whether that variation be in any apparatus implementation, method or process implementation, or simply variations of any of these elements.

[0054] In particular, it should be understood that each element word may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or more general terms should be considered included in the description of each element or operation. Such terms may be substituted where necessary to make clear the implicitly broader scope to which this disclosure is entitled. It should be understood that every operation may be expressed as a means for taking that operation or as an element that causes that operation. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the operation that the physical element facilitates.

[0055] Furthermore, for each term used, unless its usage in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, a common dictionary definition, as contained in, for example, at least one of the standard technical dictionaries recognized by artisans and the most recent edition of Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, should be understood to be incorporated herein for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms.

[0056] Additionally, the use of the transitional phrase "comprising" is used to maintain the "open-ended" claims herein in accordance with conventional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, "comprising" is intended to mean the inclusion of a recited element or step or group of elements or steps, but not the exclusion of other elements or steps or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in the broadest manner to afford the applicant the broadest scope legally permissible. The technical features described herein are listed below. [Technical feature 1] 1. A system for identifying a composition of aerosolized particles, comprising: an aerosol beam generator for generating a beam of a single particle; a guide tube disposed downstream of the aerosol beam generator, the guide tube configured to force particles proximate a longitudinal axis of the guide tube; a continuous timing laser generator configured to generate a continuous timing laser beam to strike each particle as it exits the guide tube; a pulsed ionization laser generator configured to generate a pulsed laser when triggered by the continuous timing laser beam when each particle enters the continuous laser beam, the continuous timing laser generator and the pulsed ionization laser generator configured to generate the continuous laser beam and the pulsed ionization laser as overlapping beams, respectively; and at least one detector that analyzes at least one of ionized fragments and photons associated with each particle generated when the pulsed ionizing laser beam strikes each particle in an ionization region of the pulsed laser beam to generate unique spectral data associated with each indexed particle. [Technical feature 2] The system according to technical feature 1, wherein the size of the ionized region of the pulsed ionizing laser beam is about 100 μm to 150 μm. [Technical feature 3] The system of technical feature 1, wherein the nominal inner diameter of the guide tube is approximately twice the size of the ionization region. [Technical feature 4] The system according to technical feature 1, wherein the guide tube has a nominal length of about 1 inch to about 5 inches. [Technical feature 5] The system according to Technical Feature 1, wherein the guide tube has a nominal length of about 2 inches to about 3 inches. [Technical feature 6] 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the guide tube is made of stainless steel. [Technical feature 7] The system of technical feature 1, wherein the distance between the exit end of the guide tube and the ionization region is about 0.135 inches. [Technical feature 8] The system according to technical feature 1, wherein the molecular weight of each ionized fragment is between about 1 kDa and about 150 kDa. [Technical feature 9] The system according to technical feature 1, wherein the at least one detector comprises at least one of a TOF-MS detector, a fluorescence detector, a LIBS detector, and a Raman spectrometer. [Technical feature 10] The system described in Technical Feature 1, wherein each of the continuous timing laser and the pulsed ionization laser is characterized by a centerline, and the distance between the centerline of the continuous timing laser and the centerline of the pulsed ionization laser is about 50 μm. [Technical feature 11] The system of technical feature 1 further comprises a plurality of ion extraction stages having a plurality of electrodes and lenses configured to accelerate ionized fragments generated in the ionization region toward the detector. [Technical feature 12] The system of technical feature 1 further comprises a data analysis system that uses data fusion to compile unique spectral data associated with each particle to generate compiled single particle spectral data. [Technical feature 13] 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a machine learning engine disposed in data communication with the data analysis system. [Technical feature 14] 1. A method for identifying a composition of aerosol particles, comprising: generating an aerosol beam using an aerosol beam generator; disposing a guide tube downstream of the aerosol beam generator to force particles emerging from the aerosol beam generator to flow adjacent a longitudinal axis of the guide tube; providing a continuous timing laser beam configured to strike each particle as it emerges from the guide tube and trigger a pulsed ionizing laser beam, the continuous laser beam and the pulsed ionizing laser beam being arranged as overlapping beams; triggering and firing the pulsed ionizing laser beam as each particle enters the continuous timing laser beam, whereby at least one of an ionized fragment of each particle and a photon associated with each particle is generated when the pulsed ionizing laser beam strikes each particle within an ionization region of the pulsed ionizing laser beam; analyzing at least one of the ionized fragments of each particle and the photons associated with each particle using at least one detector; and determining a composition of each particle. [Technical feature 15] 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein each of the continuous timing laser and the pulsed ionization laser is characterized by a centerline, and the distance between the centerline of the continuous timing laser beam and the centerline of the pulsed ionization laser beam is about 50 μm. [Technical feature 16] 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of indexing each particle in the aerosol particle beam using the continuous timing laser beam to obtain a plurality of indexed particles. [Technical feature 17] 17. The method according to technical feature 16, further comprising a step of measuring at least one characteristic of each indexing particle, including at least one of particle size, particle shape, and fluorescence of each indexing particle, using the continuous timing laser beam. [Technical feature 18] The step of determining the composition comprises: generating a plurality of single particle spectra using a TOF-MS detector; aligning each single particle spectrum; denoising each aligned single particle spectrum; averaging the aligned and denoised single particle spectra; 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of comparing the averaged spectrum with a reference spectrum. [Technical feature 19] The step of aligning each single particle spectrum comprises: selecting one or more mass ranges based on a priori information related to the location of the mass ranges of interest; a reference spectrum selection step of selecting one spectrum for each mass range as a reference spectrum, said reference spectrum having a spectrum that is at least one of a preselected spectrum, a spectrum present in a reference data library, and a spectrum developed using a measured single particle spectral data set; Shifting a peak window of the spectral data set to align with a corresponding window of the reference spectrum in the time domain. [Technical feature 20] The step of selecting one spectrum as a reference spectrum developed using the measured single particle spectral data set includes: selecting a plurality of measured single particle spectra; calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) for each of the selected spectral data files by cross-correlation with each other spectrum in the data set and recording the average PCC score; 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: selecting the spectrum with the highest PCC score as the reference spectrum. [Technical feature 21] 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the aligned single particle spectra are denoised using a single value decomposition technique (SVD). [Technical feature 22] The step of determining the composition further comprises: comparing the averaged spectral data to a training spectral dataset knowledge base to predict composition; updating said training dataset knowledge base; and 19. The method according to technical feature 18, having at least one of the steps of using machine learning methods to improve prediction of the composition over time. [Technical feature 23] The method according to technical feature 22, wherein the machine learning method is a supervised machine learning method. [Technical feature 24] The system according to Technical Feature 1, wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam includes at least one of an IR laser pulse and a UV laser pulse. [Technical feature 25] The system of technical feature 1, wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises a UV laser pulse. [Technical feature 26] The method according to technical feature 14, wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises at least one of an IR laser pulse and a UV laser pulse. [Technical feature 27] 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises a UV laser pulse.

[0057] [References] 1. Wan G-H, Wu C-L, Chen Y-F, Huang S-H, Wang Y-L, et al. (2014), "Particle Size Concentration Distribution and Influences on Exhaled Breath Particles in Mechanically Ventilated Patients," PLoS ONE 9(1): e87088. 2. Castanedo, F., "A Review of Data Fusion Techniques," The Scientific World Journal, 2013. 3. Morris, J.S., Coombes, K.R., Koonen, J., Baggerly, A., and Kobayashi, R., "Feature Extraction and Quantification for Mass Spectrometry in Biomedical Applications using the Mean Spectrum," Bioinformatics, vol. 21 (9), 1764-1775, May 2005. 4. Warschat, C. et al., "Mass Spectrometry of Levitated Droplets by Thermally Unconfined Infrared-Laser Desorption," Anal. Chem. 2015, 87, 8323-8327.

Claims

1. 1. A system for identifying a composition of aerosolized particles, comprising: an aerosol beam generator (902) for generating a beam of single particles; a guide tube (910) disposed downstream of the aerosol beam generator, the guide tube being configured to force particles to flow proximate a longitudinal axis of the guide tube; a continuous timing laser generator (903) configured to generate a continuous timing laser beam (903') to strike each particle as it exits the guide tube and to optically characterize each particle's particle size, particle size by polarization, and fluorescence; a pulsed ionization laser generator (908) configured to generate a pulsed ionization laser beam (908') when each particle enters the continuous timing laser beam (912) and is triggered by the continuous timing laser beam (903'), the continuous timing laser generator and the pulsed ionization laser generator configured to generate the continuous timing laser beam and the pulsed ionization laser beam as overlapping beams, respectively; and a TOFMS detector (106) for analyzing ionized fragments produced by ionization of each particle in the ionization region of the pulsed ionizing laser beam to generate unique mass spectral data associated with each particle.

2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the size of the ionized region of the pulsed ionizing laser beam is between 100 μm±10% and 150 μm±10%.

3. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the nominal inner diameter of the guide tube is twice the size of the ionization region plus or minus 10%.

4. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the exit end of said guide tube and said ionization region is 0.135 inches + / - 10%.

5. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the continuous timing laser and the pulsed ionization laser is characterized by a centerline, and the distance between the centerline (913) of the continuous timing laser and the centerline (914) of the pulsed ionization laser is 50 μm ± 10%.

6. The data analysis system further comprises: generating a data set combining the optical particle signature data with unique mass spectral data associated with each particle; processing the data sets utilizing data fusion to generate compiled spectral data associated with the particles; The system of claim 1 , configured to predict a composition of aerosolized particles by comparing training data with a knowledge base of known items.

7. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a machine learning engine disposed in data communication with the data analytics system, the data analytics system configured to update a training dataset knowledge base to improve compositional predictions over time using machine learning methods.

8. 1. A method for identifying a composition of aerosol particles, comprising: generating an aerosol beam using an aerosol beam generator; disposing a guide tube downstream of the aerosol beam generator to force particles emerging from the aerosol beam generator to flow proximate a longitudinal axis of the guide tube; providing a continuous timing laser beam configured to strike each particle as it emerges from the guide tube, optically characterize each particle's particle size, particle shape by polarization, and fluorescence, and trigger a pulsed ionizing laser beam, wherein the continuous timing laser beam and the pulsed ionizing laser beam are arranged as overlapping beams; triggering and firing the pulsed ionizing laser beam as each particle enters the continuous timing laser beam, generating ionized fragments of each particle generated when the pulsed ionizing laser beam strikes each particle within an ionization region of the pulsed ionizing laser beam; analyzing the ionized fragments associated with each particle using a TOF MS detector; and generating unique mass spectral data associated with each particle.

9. indexing each particle in the aerosol particle beam using the continuously timed laser beam; 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of selecting which indexed particles to ionize based on optical particle characteristics.

10. The method further includes determining a composition of each particle, the determining composition comprising: aligning each single particle spectrum among the unique mass spectral data associated with each particle to generate an aligned single particle spectrum; denoising each aligned single particle spectrum; averaging the aligned and denoised single particle spectra; and comparing the averaged spectrum to a reference spectrum.

11. The step of aligning each single particle spectrum comprises: selecting one or more mass ranges based on a priori information related to the location of the mass ranges of interest; a reference spectrum selection step of selecting one spectrum for each mass range as a reference spectrum, said reference spectrum having a spectrum that is at least one of a preselected spectrum, a spectrum present in a reference data library, and a spectrum developed using a measured single particle spectral data set; 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising shifting a peak window of the spectral data set to align with a corresponding window of the reference spectrum in the time domain.

12. The step of selecting one spectrum as a reference spectrum developed using the measured single particle spectral data set comprises: selecting a plurality of measured single particle spectra; calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of each of the selected spectral data files by cross-correlation with each other spectrum in the data set and recording the average PCC score; and selecting the spectrum with the highest PCC score as the reference spectrum.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the aligned single particle spectra are denoised using a single value decomposition technique (SVD).

14. The step of determining the composition further comprises: comparing the averaged spectral data to a training spectral dataset knowledge base to predict composition; updating the training dataset knowledge base; and 11. The method of claim 10, comprising at least one of the steps of using machine learning methods to improve prediction of the composition over time.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the machine learning method comprises a supervised machine learning method.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises an IR laser pulse.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises a UV laser pulse.

18. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises an IR laser pulse.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pulsed ionizing laser beam comprises a UV laser pulse.

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