The mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an important analytical technique broadly utilized to detect peptides, lipids, and small molecules in tissue samples with high spatial resolution. It has been started to emerge as a reliable technique in a clinical environment, particularly for characterization of drug distribution as well as morphological changes in tissues. A proposed MSI platform will combine a new UV laser and operate at subatmospheric conditions utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) technique. A use of the proposed MALDI platform will drastically improve detection limits of peptides, lipids, drugs, and metabolites in the direct analysis of cell cultures and tissues.
The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) source utilizing a new UV laser and operating at variable subatmospheric pressure will be built to demonstrate a significant improvement in the MS-based analysis of tissue samples as well as in tissue imaging. The new system will allow a significant improvement in both sensitivity and throughput of MALDI-MS analysis. A better optical design and ion collection will allow achieving high-quality images using tightly focused laser spots (~30 m). The proposed subatmospheric MALDI source has the potential to significantly improve detection limits in the MS tissue imaging. The platform will be easily incorporated into a variety of tandem mass spectrometers.
