For decades, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been the standard for separating complex analyte mixtures. However, relying on liquid separations means dealing with pumps, solvents, and the need to create different methods for different types of workflows. This adds complexity and makes results harder to reproduce across labs.
Additionally, while conventional filters such as quadrupoles are used to improve specificity, they do so by discarding most of the ions before detection, which impacts sensitivity and makes it harder to measure low-level signals.
MOBILion is tackling these challenges by digitizing separations with its innovative structures for lossless ion manipulation (SLIM) technology. Built on printed circuit board technology, SLIM replaces columns and liquids with electronically tunable electrode patterns, enabling faster, transferable, and more reproducible separations and eliminating the ion waste inherent in traditional LC–MS.
“Think about the shift from film photography to digital,” says Melissa Sherman, CEO of MOBILion Systems. “With film, you processed images with chemicals and hoped for the best. Digital gave you instant results and more control. We’re doing the same for separation science, moving from liquid to digital.”
Two SLIM Ion Mobility Platforms, One Core Technology
MOBILion’s first commercial instrument, MOBIE®, targets small and large molecule analyses traditionally performed with LC–MS. The upcoming BILLIE™ platform is engineered for proteomics. Both use the same flexible SLIM technology, but each features customized electrode designs to deliver optimized performance for diverse workflows.
The separation principle relies on collision cross section: once analytes are ionized, they travel through a long serpentine path on the SLIM board. Voltage patterns propel ions forward, with smaller, more compact ions moving faster than larger, more extended structures. This gas-phase approach delivers results in milliseconds to minutes- orders of magnitude faster than liquid-phase LC separations.
“As we designed BILLIE, we focused specifically on the unmet needs of proteomics researchers,” remarks Gregory Webster, SVP of Product Development. “It was engineered to detect more proteins in less time while maintaining reproducibility and depth.”
Why SLIM Technology Changes the Proteomics Game
The BILLIE platform addresses a key bottleneck in proteomics: ion loss during fragmentation. Traditional tandem MS workflows utilize quadrupoles to filter specific ions for fragmentation, discarding 80–95% of the remaining ions. BILLIE avoids this by separating ions in time, rather than filtering them out.
This enables greater sensitivity by transmitting all available ions, an advantage that is particularly important in single-cell and other limited-sample analyses. It also allows spectra to be collected at very high rates—up to 1,300 Hz—which supports faster throughput than traditional instruments. Researchers can observe deeper coverage of the proteome, detecting more proteins and proteoforms in less time. Additionally, the approach improves specificity, making it easier to detect post-translational modifications (PTMs) that might otherwise be missed.
To build on these advantages, MOBILion has also introduced a new operational mode called Parallel Accumulation Mobility Aligned Fragmentation (PAMAF). This data-independent acquisition strategy extends the benefits outlined above by capturing post-mobility separated fragmentation data for all ions, ensuring continuity between the performance gains and the analytical workflow.
“In proteomics, you shouldn’t have to choose between speed, sensitivity, and specificity,” said Daniel DeBord, Chief Technology Officer at MOBILion Systems. “Our technology improves all three without trade-offs.”
Beyond Proteomics: Ion Mobility Multi-Omics Potential
While the debut of BILLIE is in proteomics, the benefit of incorporating SLIM technology is not limited to a single field. Its capabilities can be extended into metabolomics, glycomics, lipidomics, and other omics workflows requiring high reproducibility and tunable separation.
“As we expand, ion mobility separation with SLIM is proving powerful for metabolomics and lipidomics,” asserts DeBord. “It gives researchers flexibility across omics workflows without having to change platforms.”
Genomics applications are less direct, but the company sees opportunities in analyzing modified sequences that conventional genomic tools struggle to characterize. One key advantage of the digital approach is ease of adoption. “Because our separations are digitized, a method developed in one lab will run exactly the same in another,” explains Webster. “That’s unheard of in LC–MS.”
Future Challenges and Opportunities
The company’s immediate focus is on speed, sensitivity, specificity, and quantitative accuracy for deeper characterization. However, as performance increases, another challenge looms: data handling. Higher-throughput instruments generate more complex, high-quality datasets that existing software may not fully exploit.
“As throughput accelerates, handling the volume and complexity of data becomes the next bottleneck,” advises Frederick Strathmann, SVP Global Business. “We’re investing in software and AI-driven approaches to ensure researchers can extract meaningful insights quickly.”
SLIM is positioned as a true platform technology, one that can be tuned for diverse analytical challenges across scientific domains. “We’re just getting started,” emphasizes Strathmann. “MOBIE was our first step. BILLIE is our second. With SLIM, the possibilities are limitless.”
