Ion Mobility based molecular imaging

In collaboration with Waters and the Netherlands Proteomics Centre a new research instrument was added to the molecular imaging facility at AMOLF. Since January 2009 a SYNAPT HDMS is employed to separate biomolecular ions based on their gas-phase collision cross-section using ion mobility spectrometry. The SYNAPT HDMS system is the only commercial instrument to incorporate high efficiency ion mobility separation in a MALDI-ToF mass spectrometer giving the AMOLF scientists maximum analytical power for the discovery of research challenges. Molecular images will be generated from biomedical tissue sections that will contain information on the molecular weight of the surface biomolecules, their ion mobility properties and their spatial distribution. The coupling of ion mobility separation with imaging MS realizes innovative possibilities to separate nominally isobaric species prior to mass analysis. This will result in the visualization of new spatial features directly from biomedical tissue and help in understanding the underlying molecular causes of various diseases. The first application of this innovative instrument is foreseen in our breast cancer research effort in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore.