Protocol abstract
Nature Protocols 3, - 517 - 524 (2008)
Published online: 6 March 2008 | doi:10.1038/nprot.2008.11
Subject Category: Imaging
Ambient molecular imaging by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Justin M Wiseman1,2, Demian R Ifa1, Andre Venter1 & R Graham Cooks1
Abstract
Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) allows the direct analysis of ordinary objects or pre-processed samples under ambient conditions. Among other applications, DESI is used to identify and record spatial distributions of lipids and drug molecules in biological tissue sections. This technique does not require sample preparation other than production of microtome tissue slices and does not involve the use of ionization matrices. This greatly simplifies the procedure and prevents the redistribution of analytes during matrix deposition. Images are obtained by continuously moving the sample relative to the DESI sprayer and the inlet of the mass spectrometer. The timing of the protocol depends on the size of the surface to be analyzed and on the desired resolution. Analysis of organ tissue slices at 250 
m resolution typically takes between 30 min and 2 h.
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
- Present address: Research and Development, Prosolia, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Correspondence to: R Graham Cooks1 e-mail: cooks@purdue.edu
nature-products
A-Z product listing
- Clozapine(Sigma-Aldrich)
- Cryomicrotome(Thermo Fisher Scientific)
- Extended ion-transfer tube(Prosolia)
- Male Sprague–Dawley rat(Harlan Industries)
- Mass spectrometer(LTQ Thermo Fisher Scientific)
- Microtome blades(Thermo Fisher Scientific)