Imaging Mass Spectrometry Provides Chemical Makeup of Samples Prepared by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Methods

摘要

Here, we have shown that solvent-free multi-sample MALDI analysis effectively homogenizes and transfers multiple samples that frequently suffer a great deal of reliability observed in the analysis of peptides and lipids that rely on solvent-based MS methods. The major advantages of the solvent-free MALDI method for chemical analyses include insensitivity to solubility issues, elimination of oxidation that occurs in solution, and reduction in ionization induced suppressions (low vs. high molecular weights, soluble vs. solubility-restricted materials). The solvent-free ionization method when combined with the power of ion mobility spectrometry-MS to decongest complexity and increase the dynamic range of MS detection is the bases for total solvent-free analysis by mass spectrometry. Further advances can be expected using total solvent-free analysis for materials that either cannot (solubility-restricted samples) or should not (tissue samples) undergo condensed phase separation.