MALDI mass spectrometry imaging in microscope mode with infrared lasers: bypassing the diffraction limits.

This letter demonstrates the use of infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled with microscope mode mass spectrometry imaging. It is aimed to explore the use of intrinsic water in tissue as a matrix for imaging at spatial resolutions below the diffraction limit of the employed IR optics. Stigmatic ion optics with a magnification factor of ~70 were used to project the spatial distribution of produced ions onto a detector while separating ions with different mass-to-charge ratios using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

Cluster secondary ion mass spectrometry microscope mode mass spectrometry imaging.

Rationale: Microscope mode imaging for secondary ion mass spectrometry is a technique with the promise of simultaneous high spatial resolution and high-speed imaging of biomolecules from complex surfaces. Technological developments such as new position-sensitive detectors, in combination with polyatomic primary ion sources, are required to exploit the full potential of microscope mode mass spectrometry imaging, i.e.

Photoelectron imaging of XUV photoionization of CO2 by 13-40 eV synchrotron radiation.

Valence band photoionization of CO2 has been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy using a velocity map imaging spectrometer and synchrotron radiation. The measured data allow retrieving electronic and vibrational branching ratios, vibrationally resolved asymmetry parameters, and the total electron yield which includes multiple strong resonances. Additionally, the spectrum of low kinetic energy electrons has been studied in the resonant region, and the evolution with photon energy of one of the forbidden transitions present in the slow photoelectrons spectrum has been carefully analyzed, indicating that in the presence of auto-ionizing resonances the vibrational populations of the ion are significantly redistributed.

Enhanced detection of high-mass proteins by using an active pixel detector.

Flying high: Application of an active pixel detector with high charge sensitivity to a linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer results in enhanced detection of high-mass proteins (such as Immunoglobulin G; IgG) using a conventional microchannel plate detection system. This technique thus provides a means to extend the mass range of such detectors as well as allowing direct visualization of mass-dependent ion-focusing phenomena.

A MASSive laboratory tour. An interactive mass spectrometry outreach activity for children.

It is imperative to fascinate young children at an early stage in their education for the analytical sciences. The exposure of the public to mass spectrometry presently increases rapidly through the common media. Outreach activities can take advantage of this exposure and employ mass spectrometry as an exquisite example of an analytical science in which children can be fascinated.

Microscope mode secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging with a Timepix detector.

In-vacuum active pixel detectors enable high sensitivity, highly parallel time- and space-resolved detection of ions from complex surfaces. For the first time, a Timepix detector assembly was combined with a secondary ion mass spectrometer for microscope mode secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging. Time resolved images from various benchmark samples demonstrate the imaging capabilities of the detector system.

Detection systems for mass spectrometry imaging: a perspective on novel developments with a focus on active pixel detectors.

Instrumental developments for imaging and individual particle detection for biomolecular mass spectrometry (imaging) and fundamental atomic and molecular physics studies are reviewed. Ion-counting detectors, array detection systems and high mass detectors for mass spectrometry (imaging) are treated. State-of-the-art detection systems for multi-dimensional ion, electron and photon detection are highlighted.

Biological tissue imaging with a position and time sensitive pixelated detector.

We demonstrate the capabilities of a highly parallel, active pixel detector for large-area, mass spectrometric imaging of biological tissue sections. A bare Timepix assembly (512 × 512 pixels) is combined with chevron microchannel plates on an ion microscope matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI TOF-MS). The detector assembly registers position- and time-resolved images of multiple m/z species in every measurement frame.

Emerging technologies in mass spectrometry imaging.

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) as an analytical tool for bio-molecular and bio-medical research targets accurate compound localization and identification. In terms of dedicated instrumentation, this translates into the demand for more detail in the image dimension (spatial resolution) and in the spectral dimension (mass resolution and accuracy), preferably combined in one instrument. At the same time, large area biological tissue samples require fast acquisition schemes, instrument automation and a robust data infrastructure.

High dynamic range bio-molecular ion microscopy with the Timepix detector.

Highly parallel, active pixel detectors enable novel detection capabilities for large biomolecules in time-of-flight (TOF) based mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). In this work, a 512 × 512 pixel, bare Timepix assembly combined with chevron microchannel plates (MCP) captures time-resolved images of several m/z species in a single measurement. Mass-resolved ion images from Timepix measurements of peptide and protein standards demonstrate the capability to return both mass-spectral and localization information of biologically relevant analytes from matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) on a commercial ion microscope.

Fast, high resolution mass spectrometry imaging using a Medipix pixelated detector.

In mass spectrometry imaging, spatial resolution is pushed to its limits with the use of ion microscope mass spectrometric imaging systems. An ion microscope magnifies and then projects the original spatial distribution of ions from a sample surface onto a position-sensitive detector, while retaining time-of-flight mass separation capabilities. Here, a new type of position-sensitive detector based on a chevron microchannel plate stack in combination with a 512 × 512 complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor based pixel detector is coupled to an ion microscope.