Single-cell mass spectrometry imaging: emerging advancements and future insights

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Systems Biology

Background:

• Single-cell mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) provides in situ analysis of biomolecules in native tissue architecture.
• It preserves microenvironmental context, offering insights into cellular heterogeneity and interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a systematic overview of single-cell MSI workflows.
• To critically assess current methodologies and highlight recent advancements.
• To discuss the future potential of single-cell MSI in spatial omics and systems biology.

Main Methods:

• Review of sample preparation strategies (e.g., hydrogel-assisted tissue expansion).
• Overview of ionization and imaging modalities (e.g., improved ion optics, ion mobility spectrometry).
• Discussion of computational tools for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Recent advances significantly enhance spatial resolution, molecular sensitivity, and analyte coverage.
• Methodological developments improve molecular coverage and spatial fidelity.
• Single-cell MSI enables detailed dissection of complex biological systems.

Conclusions:

• Single-cell MSI is a transformative technology for spatial omics and systems biology.
• Continued advancements promise deeper insights into cellular and molecular landscapes.
• This technique is poised to drive new discoveries in understanding biological complexity.