Characterizations of Two-step Matrix Application Procedures for Imaging Mass Spectrometry

In this paper, I describe the importance of matrix spraying conditions in imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to obtain successful imaging results. My developed matrix application methodology, which is a "two-step matrix application" sequentially combined with matrix sublimation and spraying matrix solution can provide high reproducibility and high ion yield compared with a conventional direct spraying method. However, insufficient IMS results were obtained occasionally despite the two-step method. Therefore, I wanted to characterize the methodology to continuously provide high quality data. According to my results, the sublimation time was not a strict parameter, and the most important step was the first spraying condition. This means that the extraction conditions from the tissue section and co-crystallization of the matrix were the most important factors.