Nondestructive, histologically compatible tissue imaging by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract

Imaging mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful technique which has been gaining increased attention and broad use in many fields of science. Many biological applications are being pursued using the comprehensive information it provides on the distribution of multiple endogenous and exogenous molecules within animal and plant tissues[1]. Amongst the imaging MS techniques[2], those based on ambient ionization[3] such as desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)[4], laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI)[5] and atmospheric pressure fentosecond laser imaging mass spectrometry (AP fs-LDI IMS)[6] amongst others[7], allow analysis at atmospheric pressure without significant sample preparation. In the past few years, much effort has gone into advancing ambient imaging mass spectrometry, especially in cancer diagnostics[8]. The prospect of improving the accuracy of histopathological cancer evaluation by adding chemical information to morphological microscopic analysis now represents an attainable advance.