What’s next in Mass Spectrometry?

Written By Marc Townsend

Discover the game-changing innovations unveiled at ASMS 2025.

The pace of innovation in analytical science shows no signs of slowing—and mass spectrometry continues to lead the charge. At this year’s American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) 2025 conference in Baltimore, industry leaders unveiled new technologies that promise faster analysis, deeper biological insight, and unprecedented throughput.

Here’s a quick roundup of the most exciting announcements:

NEW INSTRUMENT PLATFORMS

Thermo Fisher

  • Orbitrap Astral Zoom: Builds on the original Astral with 35 % faster scan rates, 40 % higher throughput, and 50 % expanded multiplexing, enabling up to ~300 samples per day—ideal for deep proteomics and large cohort studies.

  • Orbitrap Excedion Pro: Introduces alternative fragmentation modes to enhance characterization of complex biomolecules (e.g., mAbs).

Bruker

  • timsOmni™: A high-sensitivity, flexible platform for proteoform sequencing and detailed PTM (post-translational modification) analysis.

  • timsMetabo™: A 4D-metabolomics system combining trapped-ion mobility, high-speed MS/MS, and AI-ready data archiving—excellent for deep small-molecule profiling .

  • timsUltra AIP: Delivers ~35 % more peptide and ~20 % more protein IDs at ~300 Hz acquisition—significantly boosting proteome depth.

SCIEX

  • ZenoTOF 8600: Features ZT Scan DIA 2.0 and OptiFlow Pro source for up to 10× sensitivity gains, expanding coverage in metabolomics / lipidomics and enabling ~500 samples/day throughput.

Agilent & Waters

  • Agilent InfinityLab Pro iQ Series: Compact LC/MS systems offering high sensitivity in a bench-top footprint alongside new intelligent MassHunter software.

  • Waters Xevo TQ Absolute XR: Ultra-robust tandem quadrupole with 6× longer uptime and 15× better sensitivity in half the bench space—robust for high-throughput labs.

 

 SOFTWARE & AI ADVANCES

  • Cerno’s MassWorks/GC-ID: Combines high- and low-resolution MS data to produce sub-0.006 Da accuracy and >98.5 % spectral fidelity on unit-res instruments, enabling confident ID of unknown compounds.

  • AI-driven workflows: Integration of digital archives and AI/ML-supported annotation (esp. in timsMetabo and SCIEX ZenoTOF).

  • Foundation model for proteomics spectra: Pre-trained multi-task models improve spectrum quality and PTM/glycosylation predictions.

 

EMERGING TECHNIQUES & FRONTIERS

  • Single-cell proteomics: Innovations like SCoPE2 and microfluidic-nanoelectrospray platforms are pushing sensitivity limits for proteomics at the single-cell level.

  • Nano-DESI imaging: Enhanced spatial resolution down to 20 µm for localized proteoform / metabolite imaging.

  • Ambient and plasma sources: New ionization approaches—e.g., SICRIT (plasma-based source) and DART variants—enable real-time, prep-free analysis with broad chemical coverage.

  • Miniature MS: Portable DMF-coupled MS systems are advancing for field use (e.g., environmental monitoring, forensic analysis).

 

SUMMARY

  • Instrument hardware has taken a big leap: faster, more sensitive, and more robust platforms from Thermo Fisher, Bruker, SCIEX, Agilent, and Waters.

  • Computational innovation via AI and foundation models is transforming how spectra are interpreted, especially for unknowns and PTMs.

  • Next-gen workflows now span from bench to field, from single cells to environmental samples, and from lab-only to portable use.

 

WHY IT MATTERS

  • Deeper biological insight: Proteoform-level detail, metabolome mapping, and single-cell sensitivity.

  • Higher throughput and robustness: Handling hundreds of samples daily with minimal maintenance.

  • Wider access: Affordable, software-driven ID of unknowns even on less-expensive instruments.

  • Field adaptability: Portable setups and ambient ionization are bringing MS to real-world environments.

Why it matters for GGS customers

Every leap forward in MS demands maximum instrument uptime, high-purity nitrogen, and stable pressure profiles to protect sensitive ion optics and detectors. 

Whether you're running 300 samples/day or exploring single-cell proteomics, lab gas generators maintained and serviced by GGS to manufacturer’s specifications ensures your lab runs with unmatched reliability and compliance.

The future of mass spectrometry is high-throughput, AI-enabled, and data-rich — and we're here to support it.

Want to prepare your lab for what's next?
Let’s talk about how we at GGS can future-proof your Mass Spec workflows. Give us a call or email us for information and ideas.

Marc Townsend
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