Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of lipids in skin tissues with infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (MALDESI) mass spectrometry.

In this study, we describe the use of infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) in ablation-based 3D MSI for analyses of lipids within fresh frozen skin tissue. Depth resolution using different laser energy levels was explored with a confocal laser scanning microscope to establish the imaging parameters for skin. The lowest and highest laser energy level resulted in a depth resolution of 7 μm and 18 μm, respectively. A total of 594 lipids were putatively detected and detailed lipid profiles across different skin layers were revealed in a 56-layer 3D imaging experiment. Correlated with histological information, the skin structure was characterized with differential lipid distributions with a lateral resolution of 50 μm and a z resolution of 7 μm.
PMID: 33388847 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - January 2, 2021 Category: Chemistry Authors: Bai H, Linder KE, Muddiman DC Tags: Anal Bioanal Chem Source Type: research