title: Curcumin: a multipurpose matrix for MALDI mass spectrometry imaging applications.
abstract: Curcumin, 1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)-hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione, is a polyphenolic compound naturally present in the Curcuma longa plant, also known as tumeric. Used primarily as a coloring agent and additive in food, curcumin has also long been used for its therapeutic properties in a number of medical scenarios. Here, we report on an entirely novel use of curcumin; its extended structure of conjugated double bonds suggested the potential of this compound to be a good matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) matrix candidate. In the quest for novel and more efficient MALDI MS matrices, curcumin is revealed to be a versatile and multipurpose matrix. It has been applied successfully for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and drugs, for imaging lipids in skin and lung tissues, and for the analysis of a number of compound classes in fingermarks. In each case, the use of curcumin is shown to promote analyte ionization very efficiently as well as provide excellent mass spectral image quality.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Hallam University, Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield, United Kingdom. s.francese@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francese
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flinders
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleay
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Clench
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry*; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003474:Curcumin