Integrating Ion Beam Control into a Commercial Platform for Improved Multimodal SIMS/MALDI Imaging

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is crucial for spatially resolved chemical analysis in biological and biomedical fields.
• Multimodal MSI combines techniques like secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) for comprehensive analysis.
• Acquiring multimodal MSI data from separate instruments presents challenges in image coregistration and sample integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance a single-platform MSI instrument by implementing field of view (FoV) mode SIMS.
• To improve spatial resolution and sensitivity in multimodal MSI.
• To facilitate high-spatial-resolution image coregistration with other imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• Integrated a C60 ion gun into a commercial MSI instrument for SIMS, MALDI, and secondary electron imaging.
• Implemented FoV mode SIMS with ion beam rastering for enhanced spatial resolution.
• Optimized elemental ion signals using collision-induced dissociation (CID) and utilized secondary electrons for MALDI laser assessment.

Main Results:

• Achieved a spatial resolution of 2 μm in FoV mode SIMS, surpassing sample stage resolution.
• Demonstrated enhanced sensitivity for selected species via CID.
• Successfully etched fiducial markers for optical image coregistration and assessed MALDI laser settings using secondary electrons.

Conclusions:

• The developed single-platform MSI instrument offers improved spatial resolution and sensitivity for multimodal analysis.
• The integration facilitates seamless data acquisition and coregistration, overcoming limitations of separate instrument approaches.
• This advancement provides a more robust and efficient tool for chemical imaging in life sciences and beyond.