title: Direct ionization of biological tissue for mass spectrometric analysis.
abstract: Analysis of biological tissue at a molecular level is of great importance in biological, medical and clinical studies. In this manuscript, we report that both plant and animal tissues can be directly ionized and analyzed by mass spectrometry under ambient conditions. By adding some solvents and applying a high voltage, spray ionization can be induced at the tip of biological tissue and a mass spectrum can be observed. Various plant and animal tissues have been tested and compounds such as lipids, alkaloids, glucosides, lignans, pharmaceuticals and proteins could be detected in the spectra. This new technique provides a simple and rapid method for tissue analysis and allows observation of compounds that cannot be detected by other ionization techniques.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chirosciences, Food Safety and Technology Research Centre and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Ying-Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Pui-Kin
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Huanwen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhong-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005399:Fishes; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine