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Updated: Sep 12, 2025
09:22
Atmospheric-pressure Molecular Imaging of Biological Tissues and Biofilms by LAESI Mass Spectrometry
Published on: September 3, 2010
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Subcellular-Resolution Molecular Pathology by Laser Ablation-Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Dániel Simon1,2,3, Gabriel Stefan Horkovics-Kováts4,5, Yuchen Xiang1
1Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Analytical Chemistry
|August 6, 2025
Summary
A new technique called laser ablation REIMS (LA-REIMS) combines laser ablation with mass spectrometry for sensitive chemical imaging of tissues without matrix. This method achieves single-cell resolution and shows potential for MS-guided surgery.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Mass Spectrometry
Background:
- Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is a common technique for mass spectrometry imaging.
- MALDI requires a matrix, which can complicate analysis and limit applications.
- Ambient mass spectrometry techniques offer potential advantages in speed and simplicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel ambient mass spectrometry technique combining laser ablation with in-source surface-induced declustering.
- To evaluate the performance of this technique (LA-REIMS) for sensitive chemical imaging of biological tissues.
- To explore its potential for single-cell analysis and MS-guided surgery.
Main Methods:
- Integration of ambient laser ablation (LA) with in-source surface-induced declustering for mass spectrometry.
- Detailed characterization of the atmospheric pressure interface using geometric, thermal, and in-silico flow modeling.
- Application of three different infrared laser systems (CO2, OPO, OPA) for aerosol generation and tissue ablation.
- Analysis of detected metabolites and lipids, including amino acids, carbohydrates, nuclear bases, and glycolipids.
Main Results:
- The developed LA-REIMS technique provides sensitivity, spatial resolution, and chemical coverage comparable to MALDI without matrix deposition.
- Successful ambient mass spectrometric imaging of tissues using various laser systems.
- Achieved single-cell imaging capabilities with high-resolving optical parametric amplifier (OPA) systems.
- Detection of a wide range of metabolites and lipids.
Conclusions:
- LA-REIMS is a powerful new tool for ambient mass spectrometry imaging, offering advantages over traditional methods.
- The technique enables sensitive, high-resolution chemical analysis of biological samples at the single-cell level.
- LA-REIMS holds significant promise for applications in histology and MS-guided surgery.
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