Rapid matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry imaging with scanning desorption laser beam

Anal Chem. 2014 Jan 21;86(2):982-6. doi: 10.1021/ac402823n. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) imaging of surfaces and tissues is a rapidly evolving technique having great potential in the field of biosciences. In earlier times, acquisition of a single high-resolution MS image could take days. Despite the recent introduction of high-repetition rate lasers to increase sample throughput of axial TOF MS instruments, obtaining a high-resolution image still requires a few hours. This paper shows that a substantial increase in the throughput of the TOF MS-based tissue imaging can be achieved by incorporating a mirror providing high-speed precision scanning of the laser beam along the sample surface. Equipped with the scanning mirror, a laboratory-built axial MALDI TOF MS instrument utilizing a 4-kHz UV laser recorded a 100 × 100 pixel MS image in ~11 min using 100 laser shots per pixel. This is almost an order of magnitude faster when compared to a modern commercial instrument equipped with 1-kHz laser.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / analysis
  • Equipment Design
  • Gentisates / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Lasers
  • Light
  • Peptides / analysis*
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / instrumentation*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods

Substances

  • Gentisates
  • Peptides
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid