State-of-the-art nanoplatform-integrated MALDI-MS impacting resolutions in urinary proteomics

Urine proteomics has become a subject of interest, since it has led to a number of breakthroughs in disease diagnostics. Urine contains information not only from the kidney and the urinary tract but also from other organs, thus urinary proteome analysis allows for identification of biomarkers for both urogenital and systemic diseases. The following review gives a brief overview of the analytical techniques that have been in practice for urinary proteomics. MALDI-MS technique and its current application status in this area of clinical research have been discussed. The review comments on the challenges facing the conventional MALDI-MS technique and the upgradation of this technique with the introduction of nanotechnology. This review projects nano-based techniques such as nano-MALDI-MS, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization, and nanostructure-initiator MS as the platforms that have the potential in trafficking MALDI-MS from the lab to the bedside.