Enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes and method of use thereof
The invention generally relates to enclosed desorption electrospray ionization probes, systems, and methods. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a source of DESI-active spray, in which a distal portion of the source is enclosed within a transfer member such that the DESI-active spray is produced within the transfer member.
1. A method for analyzing a tissue section, the method comprising:
providing a tissue section;
directing a liquid droplet spray discharge from a desorption electrospray ionization probe onto the tissue section, wherein the liquid droplet spray discharge from the desorption electrospray ionization probe desorbs and ionizes an analyte from the tissue section in a manner that preserves the tissue section for further analysis;
transferring the ions of the analyte to a mass spectrometer; and
analyzing the ions of the analyte in the mass spectrometer, thereby analyzing the tissue section.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated at least a second time on the same tissue section.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge is water.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the desorption electrospray ionization probe operates without voltage.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transferring step comprises sending the ions of the analyte through a transfer member that is operably coupled to the mass spectrometer.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises generating a gas flow in the transfer member via a pump in a direction opposite that of a first direction with enough counter-flow to reduce a velocity of the discharge.
7. The method accordingly to claim 6 , wherein a distal portion of the desorption electrospray ionization probe is sealed within the transfer member.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the distal portion of the transfer member is configured to sealably interact with the tissue section.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a bench top mass spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tissue section is a brain tissue section.
11. A method for analyzing a tissue section, the method comprising:
providing a tissue section;
directing a liquid droplet spray discharge from a desorption electrospray ionization probe onto the tissue section, wherein the liquid droplet spray discharge from the desorption electrospray ionization probe desorbs and ionizes a lipid from the tissue section in a manner that preserves the tissue section for further analysis;
transferring the ions of the lipid to a mass spectrometer; and
analyzing the ions of the lipid in the mass spectrometer, thereby analyzing the tissue section.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method is repeated at least a second time on the same tissue section.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the discharge is water.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the desorption electrospray ionization probe operates without voltage.
15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the transferring step comprises sending the ions of the analyte through a transfer member that is operably coupled to the mass spectrometer.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises generating a gas flow in the transfer member via a pump in a direction opposite that of a first direction with enough counter-flow to reduce a velocity of the discharge.
17. The method accordingly to claim 16 , wherein a distal portion of the desorption electrospray ionization probe is sealed within the transfer member.
18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the distal portion of the transfer member is configured to sealably interact with the tissue section.
19. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a bench top mass spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer.
20. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the tissue section is a brain tissue section.