2007/09/27 by Péter Nemes, Ákos Vértes · 6 citations
Chemistry · Engineering · #Ambient ionization #Analytical Chemistry (journal) #Analytical Chemistry and Chromatography #Biochemistry #Biomolecule #Chemical ionization #Chemistry #Chromatography #Desorption electrospray ionization #Electrospray #Electrospray ionization #In vivo #Ion #Ion-surface interactions and analysis #Ionization #Laser #Laser ablation #Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications #Mass spectrometry #Mass spectrometry imaging
paper · doi:10.1021/ac071181r
openalex publication_date 2007/09/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Mass spectrometric analysis of biomolecules under ambient conditions promises to enable the in vivo investigation of diverse biochemical changes in organisms with high specificity. Here we report on a novel combination of infrared laser ablation with electrospray ionization (LAESI) as an ambient ion source for mass spectrometry. As a result of the interactions between the ablation plume and the spray, LAESI accomplishes electrospray-like ionization. Without any sample preparation or pretreatment, this technique was capable of detecting a variety of molecular classes and size ranges (up to 66 kDa) with a detection limit of 8 and 25 fmol for verapamil and reserpine, respectively, and quantitation capabilities with a four-decade dynamic range. We demonstrated the utility of LAESI in a broad variety of applications ranging from plant biology to clinical analysis. Proteins, lipids, and metabolites were identified, and antihistamine excretion was followed via the direct analysis of bodily fluids (urine, blood, and serum). We also performed in vivo spatial profiling (on leaf, stem, and root) of metabolites in a French marigold (Tagetes patula) seedling.