Poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide]-based tissue-embedding medium compatible with MALDI mass spectrometry imaging experiments

Anal Chem. 2011 Jul 1;83(13):5458-62. doi: 10.1021/ac2011679. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Abstract

Traditional tissue-sectioning techniques for histological samples utilize various embedding media to stabilize the tissue on a sectioning target and to provide a smooth cutting surface. Due to the ion suppression effect in MALDI ionization and number of background peaks in the low-mass region, these media are not suitable for mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) experiments. To overcome this, droplets of water are often used to mount the tissue on a sectioning target, but the ice block formed around the tissue does not provide a good support for sectioning of fragile samples. In this work, we propose a novel embedding media, compatible with MALDI ionization and MSI experiments, based on poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (pHPMA). Using a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization technique, well-defined pHPMA polymer with narrow mass distribution was prepared. Benefits of the resulted pHPMA-based embedding media were tested on different tissue samples.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / chemistry*
  • Animals
  • Bees
  • Lung
  • Mice
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*
  • Tissue Embedding*

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Polymers
  • N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide