Direct Biological Sample Analyses by Laserspray Ionization Miniature Mass Spectrometry

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Miniature mass spectrometers are advancing for practical applications.
• Effective ionization sources are crucial for minimizing sample preparation and expanding sample compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To couple an atmospheric pressure laserspray ionization (AP-LSI) source with a miniature ion trap mass spectrometer.
• To evaluate the system's capability for direct analysis of biological samples with minimal preparation.

Main Methods:

• Development and integration of a home-built miniature ion trap mass spectrometer.
• Coupling of the mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure laserspray ionization (AP-LSI) source.
• Direct analysis of biological samples including whole blood, urine, and tissue sections.

Main Results:

• Achieved compact system size suitable for practical applications.
• Demonstrated high-sensitivity direct detection of peptides, proteins, and drugs in whole blood and urine.
• Successfully differentiated regions within tissue sections based on lipid profiles.

Conclusions:

• The AP-LSI coupled miniature mass spectrometer is a powerful analytical technique.
• This system offers potential benefits for target molecule analysis in biological and medical fields.
• Minimal sample preparation enables broad applicability for complex biological samples.