title: MALDI imaging mass spectrometry: spatial molecular analysis to enable a new age of discovery.
abstract: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI IMS) combines the sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry with spatial analysis to provide a new dimension for histological analyses to provide unbiased visualization of the arrangement of biomolecules in tissue. As such, MALDI IMS has the capability to become a powerful new molecular technology for the biological and clinical sciences. In this review, we briefly describe several applications of MALDI IMS covering a range of molecular weights, from drugs to proteins. Current limitations and challenges are discussed along with recent developments to address these issues. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 20years of Proteomics in memory of Viatliano Pallini. Guest Editors: Luca Bini, Juan J. Calvete, Natacha Turck, Denis Hochstrasser and Jean-Charles Sanchez.
authors.affiliation: National Research Resource for Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry Research Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gessel
authors.affiliation: National Research Resource for Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry Research Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States.
authors.forename: Jeremy L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: National Research Resource for Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Mass Spectrometry Research Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 9160 Medical Research Building III, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37232-8575, United States. Electronic address: r.caprioli@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Caprioli
mesh_terms: D055808:Drug Discovery; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins
keywords: MALDI imaging mass spectrometry