title: Graphene Oxide as a Novel Evenly Continuous Phase Matrix for TOF-SIMS.
abstract: Using matrix to enhance the molecular ion signals for biomolecule identification without loss of spatial resolution caused by matrix crystallization is a great challenge for the application of TOF-SIMS in real-world biological research. In this report, graphene oxide (GO) was used as a matrix for TOF-SIMS to improve the secondary ion yields of intact molecular ions ([M + H]+). Identifying and distinguishing the molecular ions of lipids (m/z >700) therefore became straightforward. The spatial resolution of TOF-SIMS imaging could also be improved as GO can form a homogeneous layer of matrix instead of crystalline domain, which prevents high spatial resolution in TOF-SIMS imaging. Lipid mapping in presence of GO revealed the delicate morphology and distribution of single vesicles with a diameter of 800 nm. On GO matrix, the vesicles with similar shape but different chemical composition could be distinguished using molecular ions. This novel matrix holds potentials in such applications as the analysis and imaging of complex biological samples by TOF-SIMS. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lesi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Linfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Mengchan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China. zhanpingli@tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhanping
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sichun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China. xrzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xinrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Bio-imaging; Graphene oxide; Matrix enhancement; Molecular ions; TOF-SIMS