Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7064
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2157-7064
+44 1300 500008
Julia Laskin and Ingela Lanekoff
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Chromatogr Sep Tech
Mass spectrometry (MS) is ideally suited for the analysis of complex biological samples with high sensitivity, speed and unprecedented chemical specificity. When operated in the imaging mode, it provides detailed chemical information on the identity and the distribution of biomolecules in the sample. Ambient pressure (AP) surface ionization MS is particularly attractive for imaging of biological samples without special sample preparation. We have developed nanospray desorption electrospray ionization (nano-DESI) -- A novel AP surface ionization method that relies on localized liquid extraction of molecules from ambient surfaces and efficient transfer of the desorbed analyte molecules to a mass spectrometer inlet. Nano- DESI has been used for imaging of fully hydrated biological samples and living microbial communities with high sensitivity and spatial resolution without sample preparation. In nano-DESI imaging, quantification is performed by doping the nano-DESI solvent with appropriate standards and normalization of the ion image to the ion image of the standard compensates for matrix effects Nano-DESI imaging enables online quantification and identification of the observed metabolites and lipids in biological tissue sections.