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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Published on: July 12, 2013
Desorption ionization of biomolecules on metals
Nien-Yeen Hsu1, Susan Yu Tseng, Chung-Yi Wu
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Abstract:
Direct desorption ionization of various types of biomolecules on metal substrates without the need of matrices was observed by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. It provides a new convenient method for detection of small biomolecules without the confusion of ion peaks from matrix compounds. Simple commercial Al foil can be used as the substrate to obtain mass spectra of biomolecules without the need of an etching process to produce a porous surface such as with direct ionization on silicon (DIOS). The desorption and ionization mechanism is also discussed.
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