Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for lipid characterization and biological tissue imaging

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta 2011-11, Vol.1811 (11), p.946-960
• Main Authors: Eberlin, Livia S., Ferreira, Christina R., Dill, Allison L., Ifa, Demian R., Cooks, R. Graham
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ambient mass spectrometry; Animals; Desorption electrospray ionization; Disease diagnosis; Humans; Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Lipid characterization; Lipidomics; Lipids - analysis; Lipids - chemistry; Organ Specificity; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization - methods
• ISSN: 1388-1981; 0006-3002; 1879-2618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2011.05.006

Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) imaging of biological samples allows untargeted analysis and structural characterization of lipids ionized from the near-surface region of a sample under ambient conditions. DESI is a powerful and sensitive MS ionization method for 2D and 3D imaging of lipids from direct and unmodified complex biological samples. This review describes the strengths and limitations of DESI-MS for lipid characterization and imaging together with the technical workflow and a survey of applications. Included are discussions of lipid mapping and biomarker discovery as well as a perspective on the future of DESI imaging. [Display omitted] ► DESI-MS is a powerful and sensitive ambient MS ionization method. ► 2D and 3D imaging of lipids from untreated biological samples is achieved by DESI-MS under ambient conditions. ► DESI-MS has strengths and limitations for lipid characterization and imaging. ► DESI-MS technical workflow and a survey of applications are described. ► Discussion on lipid mapping and biomarker discovery and a perspective on the future of DESI imaging are included.