Fast nucleotide identification through fingerprinting using gold nanoparticle-based surface-assisted laser desorption/ionisation

► Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) based surface-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (SALDI-TOF). ► AuNP for SALDI-TOF allows identification of nucleotides with lower background. ► AuNP compares well with organic matrices for SALDI-TOF analysis of nucleotides. ► SALDI-TOF for fingerprinting nucleotides and modified nucleobases. ► AuNP-SALDI-TOF for DNA adducts identification as biomarker of chemical exposure.