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Related Concept Videos

Mass Spectrometers01:16

Mass Spectrometers

10.9K
This lesson details the instrumentation of a mass spectrometer—a physical instrument to perform mass spectrometry on analyte molecules and record the characteristic mass spectra. This is achieved via three chief functions:
10.9K
Mass Analyzers: Common Types01:19

Mass Analyzers: Common Types

1.9K
The quadrupole mass analyzer consists of four cylindrical metal rods arranged in a diamond carrying a DC voltage and a radio-frequency AC voltage. The motion of ions through the quadrupole depends on the field strength, causing only ions of a certain m/z to resonate successfully and strike the detector at a given field strength. Though the transmission rate for these analyzers is high, the exact elemental composition of the sample is not determined because of low resolution; however, they are...
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Mass Analyzers: Overview01:13

Mass Analyzers: Overview

2.0K
The mass analyzer is a crucial component of the mass spectrometer. In the ionization chamber, the vaporized sample is bombarded with a high-energy electron beam to generate a radical cation and further fragment into neutral molecules, radicals, and cations. A series of negatively charged accelerator plates accelerate the cations into the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios and then directs them to the detector. The common types of mass...
2.0K
MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry01:19

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

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Mass spectrometry is a powerful characterization technique that can identify and separate a wide variety of compounds ranging from chemical to biological entities, based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). The instruments that allow this detection, known as mass spectrometers, have three components: an ion source, a mass analyzer, and a detector. These spectrometers differ based on the nature of their ion source and analyzers.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is a commonly...
7.5K
Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview01:19

Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview

2.7K
In inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch is used as an atomizer and ionizer. Solid samples are dissolved and volatilized before being introduced into the high-temperature argon plasma, while solution samples are nebulized and passed through the high-temperature argon plasma. Plasma dissociates the analytes and ionizes their component atoms to form a mixture of positive ions and molecular species. The positive ions are then...
2.7K
Mass Spectrum: Interpretation01:24

Mass Spectrum: Interpretation

4.3K
An unknown compound can be established by identifying the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. The molecular ion peak is often weak or absent due to the predominance of fragmentation in high-energy electron beams. In such cases, a soft-energy electron beam can be used to scan the spectrum to enhance the intensity of the molecular ion peak. Additionally, chemical ionization, field ionization, and desorption ionization spectra are used to obtain a relatively intense molecular ion peak.To...
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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
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Imaging of Biological Tissues by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

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Ionization sources and mass analyzers in MS imaging.

Yu-Hsuan Tsai1, Robert F Menger1, Dieter M Drexler1

  • 1University of Florida, 1395 Center Dr, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.

Bioanalysis
|October 30, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Mass spectrometry (MS) imaging aids drug discovery by analyzing absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicology. Key ionization and mass analysis techniques are discussed for identifying drug compounds in biological systems.

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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Drug Development
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Biomedical Imaging

Background:

  • Drug discovery and development relies heavily on understanding a drug's pharmacokinetic and toxicological profile.
  • Mass spectrometry (MS) imaging is increasingly utilized for in situ analysis of drugs and their metabolites within biological matrices.
  • Distinguishing exogenous drug compounds from endogenous biological molecules is crucial for accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key mass spectrometry ionization techniques relevant to drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies.
  • To highlight the necessity of high-resolution mass analyzers for differentiating drug-related compounds from endogenous substances.
  • To introduce common mass analyzers employed in drug imaging and analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of ionization methods including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), secondary ion MS (SIMS), and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI).
  • Emphasis on the role of exact mass and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for compound identification.
  • Introduction to mass analyzers such as time-of-flight (TOF), Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR), and Orbitrap mass analyzers.

Main Results:

  • Selected ionization methods provide effective means for introducing diverse analytes into the mass spectrometer.
  • High-resolution mass analyzers are essential for achieving the mass accuracy required to identify and quantify drug compounds and metabolites.
  • The combination of appropriate ionization and mass analysis techniques enables comprehensive drug distribution and metabolism studies.

Conclusions:

  • Mass spectrometry imaging, employing specific ionization techniques and high-resolution mass analyzers, is a powerful tool in drug discovery.
  • Accurate differentiation of drug compounds from endogenous molecules is achievable through precise mass measurements and fragmentation analysis.
  • The discussed MS methodologies are vital for advancing the understanding of drug behavior in biological systems.