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Updated: May 31, 2026

Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Published on: July 12, 2013

Some thoughts on electrospray ionization mechanisms.

Sara Crotti¹, Roberta Seraglia, Pietro Traldi

¹Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Cà Foscari University, 2137 Dorsoduro, Venice, Italy.

European Journal of Mass Spectrometry (Chichester, England)

|July 2, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mechanisms are complex. Analyte ion mobility in solution before droplet formation influences ESI spectra, depending on analyte size and charge state.

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Area of Science:

Analytical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry

Background:

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mechanisms involve complex physical and chemical phenomena.
The presence of solvent dissociation equilibria and ionic compounds significantly complicates ESI systems.
Previous research focused on charged droplet production and gas-phase ion generation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of ion mobility in solution on electrospray ionization (ESI) outcomes.
To determine if pre-droplet formation ion mobility affects ESI spectra.
To explore the relationship between analyte properties and ESI results.

Main Methods:

Review of proposed ESI mechanisms.
Experimental examination of ion mobility in solution prior to droplet formation.
Analysis of ESI spectra for inorganic and organic analytes.

Main Results:

ESI spectra are demonstrably dependent on analyte dimension and charge state.
Analyte size and charge influence ion mobility within the solution.
Ion mobility in solution impacts the final ESI measurements.

Conclusions:

Analyte ion mobility in solution is a critical factor affecting ESI results.
Understanding analyte properties is key to interpreting ESI spectra.
This finding adds complexity to the established ESI mechanisms.