High Resolution Tissue Imaging Using the Single-probe Mass Spectrometry under Ambient Conditions

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Imaging Science

Background:

• Ambient mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) offers detailed spatial analysis of biological samples with minimal pretreatment.
• Current ambient MSI techniques have limitations in achieving very high spatial resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a miniaturized sampling and ionization device, the Single-probe, for enhanced ambient MSI.
• To achieve high detection sensitivity and spatial resolution in MSI experiments.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Single-probe, a device utilizing in-situ surface micro-extraction.
• Coupling the Single-probe to a Thermo LTQ Orbitrap XL mass spectrometer.
• Performing MSI experiments on polycarbonate slides and mouse kidney sections.

Main Results:

• The Single-probe MSI technique achieved high spatial resolution of 8 ± 2 μm on slides and 8.5 μm on kidney sections.
• High mass resolution MS images were successfully generated.
• Demonstrated high detection sensitivity and spatial resolution in ambient MSI.

Conclusions:

• The Single-probe MSI technique provides very high spatial resolution with minimal sample preparation.
• This advancement holds potential for future subcellular ambient tissue MSI.
• The developed device significantly enhances capabilities in ambient MSI analysis.