Ambient ionization imaging mass spectrometry enables detailed chemical characterization of biological samples in their native environment. We have recently developed nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) - a new ambient pressure ionization technique for analysis of complex molecules on substrates. In nano-DESI, the analyte is dissolved into a liquid bridge between two capillaries and ionized through self-aspirating nanospray. This enables sensitive analysis and ambient imaging of biological systems without sample preparation. We demonstrate highly sensitive chemical imaging of tissue samples with high spatial resolution and spatial profiling of living bacterial colonies directly from their natural growth medium. Spatially-resolved chemical analysis of living bacterial colonies provides unique insights on the distribution of metabolites inside and outside the bacterial colony. Nano-DESI mass spectrometry imaging enables new applications in clinical diagnostics, drug discovery, microbiology, and biochemistry.

Chemical imaging of biological systems using nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) mass spectrometry

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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