High-spatial-resolution mass spectrometry imaging of biological tissues using a microfluidic probe

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) is a powerful technique for molecular mapping of biological samples.
• Wider adoption of nano-DESI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is limited by complexity and throughput.
• High spatial resolution is crucial for detailed analysis of biological tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust and user-friendly microfluidic probe (MFP) for nano-DESI MSI.
• To improve the experimental throughput and accessibility of nano-DESI MSI.
• To provide a comprehensive workflow for nano-DESI MSI, from probe fabrication to data analysis.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a novel microfluidic probe (MFP).
• Integration of the MFP into the nano-DESI MSI workflow.
• Optimization of experimental parameters for high-resolution imaging and throughput.

Main Results:

• Achieved high spatial resolution of 8-10 µm for molecular mapping.
• Demonstrated up to a 10-fold improvement in experimental throughput.
• Enabled imaging of large tissue sections with cellular resolution.
• Developed a complete workflow for probe assembly, data acquisition, and analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed MFP significantly enhances the ease of use and efficiency of nano-DESI MSI.
• This advancement makes high-resolution molecular mapping more accessible to the scientific community.
• The user-friendly probe and workflow streamline the analysis of biological samples.