Imaging of elements and molecules in biological tissues and cells in the low-micrometer and nanometer range

Investigation of small areas of biological tissues or single cells is of particular interest in the life sciences. Chemical imaging in such samples is able to provide the spatial distribution as well as concentrations of elements and molecules present in the sample. At present, the analytical techniques supporting chemical imaging are under intensive development with respect to higher spatial resolution and higher sensitivity and accuracy. In this review, we will focus on the state of the art of advanced mass spectrometric techniques such as secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS), imaging matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (imaging MALDI-MS), nano-scale laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) versus non-mass spectrometric techniques, for instance, synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) assist Raman spectroscopy, with lateral resolution down to low-micrometer and nanometer scales. The outstanding features and drawbacks of each technique are also discussed regarding their application on the study of biological samples. The promising future of imaging mass spectrometric techniques, especially nano-scale LA-ICP-MS, for application in biochemical studies with high spatial resolution down to the nanometer range is also discussed.

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► State of the art of advanced mass spectrometric imaging of biological tissues and cells with lateral resolution down to low-micrometer and nanometer scales was discussed.
► The promising future of imaging mass spectrometric techniques, especially nano-scale LA-ICP-MS, for application in biochemical studies with high spatial resolution down to the nanometer range was also discussed.
► Non-mass spectrometric techniques were reviewed as well for comparison with mass spectrometric imaging techniques.