MALDI imaging for small molecules

New developments in MALDI instrumentation, laser technology and sample preparation techniques can turn MALDI imaging of small molecules into a routine technique. The MALDI Molecular Imager investigates the drug distribution in tissue sections with a spatial resolution of 20 - 50 μm. From each point of the tissue, mass spectra of the molecular composition are generated by the MALDI process in a mass spectrometer.

Sample preparation

Cryostat  tissue sections are first evenly covered with matrix. This step is crucial for high spectrum quality in combination with high lateral resolution. The patented ImagePrep device provides simple, intuitive sample preparation for imaging and facilitates high quality results.

Mass imaging to show small molecule distribution

Analysis of the complex data set can be performed by dedicated selection and false color depiction of single masses. Peak heights correlate with color brightness/intensity. The resulting map enables the analysis of small molecule distribution without any labeling technique.

FTMS imaging

The high resolution and mass accuracy of the APEXultra mass spectrometer gives complete confidence in the analysis of the distribution of a small molecule within tissues. The necessary specificity to detect only the drug or metabolite of interet in the background of matrix and other ions is reached by the high resolution and mass accuracy.

MALDI TOF/TOF imaging

The necessary specificity of the drug measurement is reached by an SRM experiment. The precursor ion is selected by an ion gate and the quantitative information for the imaging experiment is obtained from a specific drug fragment.