MALDI IMS

MALDI MS is a powerful technique primarily used for the analysis of biomolecules, often for studies involving drug metabolism, proteomics, lipidomics and genomics. Samples are first mixed with a matrix solution containing solvents and a matrix compound that has strong optical absorption in the UV or IR range. The samples are then dried and recrystallized on a specialized MALDI plate.

Desorption or ionization of the matrix is done by irradiating the sample with a laser beam in a high-vacuum environment. The resulting ionized particles in the vapor phase are injected into a mass analyzer, most commonly a TOF analyzer, in order to profile the molecular constituents of the sample. When this technique is performed on tissue samples on a series of adjacent x- and y-grid coordinates, the individual features of each spectrum can be interpreted with software to generate color-coded spatial maps of proteins. The combination and integration of hundreds or thousands of these maps allows scientists to visualize the structure of tissue sections, a practice known as MALDI imaging MS (MALDI IMS).

MALDI-IMS is primarily used for applications in histology and pathology. In preclinical drug discovery applications, the technique is useful for analyzing the distribution of specific drug compounds and their metabolites. It is also routinely used in cancer research and other clinical research studies to uncover biomarkers for diseases, identify the distribution of proteins, or monitor the metabolism of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals.

Most current instruments dedicated to MALDI-IMS applications were released a few years ago. The current leading supplier for the technology is Bruker, which offers the FLEX series of MALDI-TOF and TOF/TOF systems, the most recent of which is the rapifleX, introduced in June 2015. In June, the company introduced the scimaX magnetic resonance MS, a high-end system capable of switching to a MALDI source for imaging. In fact, Bruker’s control of the market was further established through its recent acquisition of SCiLS (see IBO 1/15/18), a leading provider of MALDI imaging software tools.

Other major vendors are Shimadzu and Waters, which both introduced their MALDI imaging instruments in mid-2013. Shimadzu offers the MALDI-7090 TOF/TOF, while Waters supplies the SYNAPT G2-Si HDMS. JEOL, a moderate-size player in the market, introduced its MALDI SpiralTOF MS in 2010.

The market for MALDI-IMS applications was about $50 million in 2018. Mid-to-high single digit growth is expected over the next several years, driven by demand from pharmaceuticals and CROs.

MS-IMS at a Glance: 

Largest Markets:

  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Academia
  • CROs

Leading Vendors:

  • Bruker
  • Shimadzu
  • Waters

Instrument Cost:

  • $300,000–$700,000
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