This page is for a novel technology produced by a company Shimadzu corporation
through a collaboration with researchers based on results of Biophysical studies

High spatial resolution imaging mass spectrometry withatmospheric-pressure ion source
Keigo Sano, Mitsutoshi Setou
Advantageof anatmosphericpressure (AP)imaging mass spectrometry (IMS)

organelle-level characterization (Fig. 2).

IMS is used to visualize the surface molecular
distribution of objects. This analyzing method isextremely useful as a way of imaging for simultaneous
and/or non-targeting analysis like omics-analysis
because this method does not require any labels orspecific probes. This character enables us to visualize
the distribution of metabolites that are difficult to makelabels including small organic molecules, lipids, andsome proteins. The biological knowledge with IMS has
increased. On the other hand, since traditional
instruments of IMS are coupled with vacuumion-source chamber for effective ionization, liquid orvolatile metabolite cannot be measured by evaporatingand histological information may be lost by shrinkingof tissue sections. In addition, traditional instrumentsof IMS only have low magnification camera asmachineryfortheobservation

the metabolite of ginger taste, and demonstrated theoftissue.

Themagnification is not enough to obtain histological

Matrix for high spatial resolution IMSMatrix is very important and useful material for
MALDI-IMS of biomolecules in tissue section. The
characters of these co-crystals affect the spatialresolution and the signal intensity. The formation ofbigger crystal alters the microscopic distribution ofbiomolecules by the molecular intermixture between
adjacent sites in the co-crystallization process. The
ununiformities of crystal lead to instability in mass
spectrabetweenproblems,

themeasurements. Tomatrix

sublimation

solve

thesemethod

was2developed . We developed automatic and stable
sublimation instrument equipped with measurement ofthickness of coated matrix based on that method. The
crystal of sublimation coated matrix is nano-level size.
Currently, we are analyzing single cell with thisinstrument.

information of cell level or organ functional unit.

Reference	 

Therefore, we developed a mass microscope equipped

1. Harada T et al., Visualization of volatile

with AP ion-source chamber and optical microscope1.

substances

AP ion-source chamber is efficient in IMS of volatile

atmospheric-pressure

metabolites like taste/flavor molecule, and the highChem., 81(21), 9153-7, 2009

magnification lens are available for observation of

2．Hankin JA et al., Sublimation as a method ofcellular-level structure of the tissue sections. We

matrix application for mass spectrometric imaging. J

applied the mass microscope for the IMS of fresh

Am Soc Mass Spectrom., 18(9): 1646-52, 2007

indifferent
MassorganelleswithMicroscope.

anAnalginger rhizome, indicated several specimen including(Fig. 2) Spatial distribution of 6-gingeol ([M+K]+,(Fig. 1) Scheme of the mass microscopem/z 333.15) (Reprinted and modified from Ref.1)

A novel technology developed by studies of Biophysics

Imaging Mass Microscope "iMScope TRIO".
Shimadzu corporation	 Imaging Mass Microscope "iMScope TRIO", visualizing

iMlayer is also our newly developed instrument. It is

the distribution of bio molecules in organ, is the newfor sample preparation. This matrix vapor deposition

instrument for MALDI imaging MS (IMS) with highsystem is well controlled Matrix thickness and makes

special resolution than ever.

finer and more reproducible matrix layer. The result ofWe have developed a mass microscope equipped with anmass analysis with finer crystallized matrix shows

atmospheric pressure ion-source chamber for Matrix

sharper images than spraying of tissue sections.

assisted laser desorption /ionization (AP- MALDI) and a

We performed simulation of spatial resolution

quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight (QIT-TOF) analyzer.

required to visualize the pigment layer of retina.TheThe optical microscope combined with the massimaging mass analysis was used iMScope TRIO tospectrometer permitted us to precisely determine thepigment layer of rat’s retina. Only 10um or less laser

relevant tissue region prior to performing imaging mass

diameter can be distinguished the three layered ofspectrometry (IMS). An ultraviolet laser tightly focused

phosphatidylcolines(PC) near pigment layer of retina.

with a triplet lens was used to achieve high spatial

And Matrix deposition system also contributed for

resolutionpressurehigh special resolution imaging. Used for observing

ion-source chamber enables us to analyze fresh samples

the distribution of drugs in micro areas or localizedwith minimal loss of intrinsic water or volatileaccumulations of metabolites.

compounds.

iMScope TRIO is useful tool to determine the drug, its(Max:5um).

An

atmosphericmetabolites and candidate biomarker molecules withhigh special resolution. Also iMScope data acquisitionand statistical analysis of dedicated software are
effective to discover biomarker.