Transmission-mode MALDI-2 mass spectrometry imaging of cells and tissues at subcellular resolution

Matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization mass spectrometry imaging in transmission-mode geometry (t-MALDI–MSI) can provide molecular information with a pixel size of 1 µm and smaller, which makes this label-free method highly interesting for characterizing the chemical composition of tissues and cells on a (sub)cellular level. However, a major hindrance for wider use of the technology is the reduced ion abundance at small pixel sizes. Here we mitigate this problem by use of laser-induced post-ionization (MALDI-2) and by adapting a t-MALDI-2 ion source to an Orbitrap mass analyzer. We demonstrate the crucial sensitivity and accuracy boosts that are achieved with this combination by visualizing the distribution of numerous phospho- and glycolipids in mouse cerebellum and kidney slices, and in cultured Vero B4 cells. With brain tissue, a pixel size of 600 nm was achieved. Our method could constitute a valuable new tool for research in cell biology and biomedicine. Adapting a t-MALDI-2 ion source to an Orbitrap mass analyzer enables mass spectrometry imaging of cells and tissues with (sub)cellular resolution.