Accumulation of Bioactive Lipid Species in LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation Models Analysed with Multi-Modal Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

Neuroinflammation is a complex biological process related to a variety of pathologies, often requiring better understanding in order to develop new, targeted therapeutic interventions. Within this context, multimodal Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) has been used to characterise molecular changes in neuroinflammation for biomarker discovery not possible to other techniques. In this study, molecules including bioactive lipids were detected across inflamed regions of the brain in rats treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Improved Detection of Tryptic Peptides from Tissue Sections Using Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

DESI-MSI is an ambient ionization technique used frequently for the detection of lipids, small molecules, and drug targets. Until recently, DESI had only limited use for the detection of proteins and peptides due to the setup and needs around deconvolution of data resulting in a small number of species being detected at lower spatial resolution. There are known differences in the ion species detected using DESI and MALDI for nonpeptide molecules, and here, we identify that this extends to proteomic species.

The Opportunities and Use of Imaging to Measure Target Engagement.

Lack of efficacy and poor safety outcomes are deemed to be the greatest causes of clinical failure of novel therapeutics. The use of biomarkers that give accurate information on target engagement, providing confidence that pharmacological activity in the target organ is being achieved, is key in optimizing clinical success. Without a measurement of target engagement, it can be very difficult to discern the basis for any lack of efficacy of a drug molecule within the pharmaceutical industry.

Lipidomics for translational skin research: A primer for the uninitiated.

Healthy skin depends on a unique lipid profile to form a barrier that confers protection and prevents excessive water loss, aids cell-cell communication and regulates cutaneous homoeostasis and inflammation. Alterations in the cutaneous lipid profile can have severe consequences for skin health and have been implicated in numerous inflammatory skin conditions. Thus, skin lipidomics is increasingly of interest, and recent developments in mass spectrometry-based analytical technologies can deliver in-depth investigation of cutaneous lipids, providing insight into their role and mechanism of action.

Multi-modal imaging of long-term recovery post-stroke by positron emission tomography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry.

Rationale: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Understanding the recovery process post-stroke is essential; however, longer-term recovery studies are lacking. In vivo positron emission tomography (PET) can image biological recovery processes, but is limited by spatial resolution and its targeted nature.

MALDI-MSI of Lipids in Human Skin.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) is now a well-established technique for imaging analysis of sectioned biological tissues. One of the growing areas of interest is in the analysis of skin. MALDI-MSI can provide a wealth of information from within sections of skin.

A method for the detection of antibiotic resistance markers in clinical strains of Escherichia coli using MALDI mass spectrometry.

Matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is one of the most widely used mass spectrometry based approaches for bacterial identification and classification. The relatively simple sample preparation requirements and the speed of analysis which can usually be completed within a few minutes have resulted in the adoption and assimilation of MALDI-TOF MS into the routine diagnostic workflow of Clinical microbiology laboratories worldwide. This study describes the facilitation of bacterial discrimination based on antibiotic resistance markers through the implementation of MALDI-TOF MS.

MALDI-MS imaging of lipids in ex vivo human skin.

Lipidomics is a rapidly expanding area of scientific research and there are a number of analytical techniques that are employed to facilitate investigations. One such technique is matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS). Previous MALDI-MS studies involving lipidomic investigation have included the analysis of a number of different ex vivo tissues, most of which were obtained from animal models, with only a few being of human origin.

Introduction of a 20 kHz Nd:YVO4 laser into a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer for MALDI-MS imaging.

A commercial hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been modified for high-speed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation (MALDI) imaging using a short-pulse optical technology Nd:YVO(4) laser. The laser operating in frequency-tripled mode (lambda = 355 nm) is capable of delivering 1.5-ns pulses of energy at up to 8 microJ at 5-10 kHz and 3 microJ at 20 kHz.