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Qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry imaging of drugs and metabolites in tissue at therapeutic levels

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Abstract

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly evolving technology that yields qualitative and quantitative distribution maps of small pharmaceutical-active molecules and their metabolites in tissue sections in situ. The simplicity, high sensitivity and ability to provide comprehensive spatial distribution maps of different classes of biomolecules make MSI a valuable tool to complement histopathology for diagnostics and biomarker discovery. In this review, qualitative and quantitative MSI of drugs and metabolites in tissue at therapeutic levels are discussed and the impact of this technique in drug discovery and clinical research is highlighted.

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Abbreviations

2D:

Two-dimensional

3D:

Three-dimensional

CASI:

Continuous accumulation of selected ions

CHCA:

α-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid

COC:

Cocaine

DHB:

2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid

FTICR:

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance

H&E:

Haematoxylin and eosin staining

LC:

Liquid chromatography

LC–MS/MS:

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

MALDI:

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation

MRM:

Multiple reaction monitoring

MS:

Mass spectrometry

MSI:

Mass spectrometry imaging

MS/MS:

Tandem mass spectrometry

MXF:

Moxifloxacin

PET:

Positron emission tomography

ROI:

Region of interest

SA:

Sinapinic acid

SRM:

Selected reaction monitoring

TOF:

Time-of-flight

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the BMBF (No. 0315508A and No. 01IB10004E) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 824 TP B1, SFB 824 TP Z2 and WA 1656/3-1).

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  1. Research Unit Analytical Pathology, Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstaedter Landstraße 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Na Sun & Axel Walch

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  1. Na Sun
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  2. Axel Walch
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Correspondence to Axel Walch.

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Sun, N., Walch, A. Qualitative and quantitative mass spectrometry imaging of drugs and metabolites in tissue at therapeutic levels. Histochem Cell Biol 140, 93–104 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-013-1127-4

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