Mass Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging is a technique used in mass spectrometry to visualize the spatial distribution of chemical compositions e.g. compounds, biomarker metabolites, peptides or proteins by their molecular masses. Although widely used traditional methodologies like radiochemistry and immunohistochemistry achieve the same goal as MSI, they are limited in their abilities to analyze multiple samples at once, and can prove to be lacking if researchers do not have prior knowledge of the samples being studied. Emergency Radiology in the field of MSI are MALDI imaging and secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging (SIMS imaging). Imaging Mass Spectrometry is a technology that combines advanced analytical techniques for the analysis of biomedical Chromatography with spatial fidelity. An effective approach for imaging biological specimens in this way utilizes Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI MS). Briefly, molecules of interest are embedded in an organic matrix compound that assists in the desorption and ionization of compounds on irradiation with a UV laser. The mass-to-charge ratio of the ions are measured using a Tandem Mass Spectrometry over an ordered array of ablated spots. Multiple analytes are measured simultaneously, capturing a representation or profile of the biological state of the molecules in that sample at a specific location on the tissue surface.

• Single-cell MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging
• Biomolecular Imaging Mass Spectrometry
• Mass Spectrometry Imaging Approaches and Applications