DESI-MS Solvent Composition for Tissue-Safe Lipid Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass spectral analysis techniques, such as DESI-MS, often destroy native tissue morphology, making it difficult to perform subsequent histochemical analyses on the same tissue section, which is essential for accurate histopathological evaluation and cancer diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-destructive solvent systems like DMF:EtOH and DMF:H2O allows for DESI-MS imaging without damaging the tissue morphology, enabling subsequent H&E staining and immunohistochemistry, thereby preserving the tissue integrity for comprehensive analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional DESI-MS solvent systems (methanol/water or acetonitrile/water) are used, then mass spectral analysis can be performed, but native tissue morphology is destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the DESI solvent system by replacing conventional methanol/water or acetonitrile/water mixtures with morphologically friendly solvent systems containing dimethylformamide (DMF) combined with ethanol or water. This parameter change in solvent chemistry enables mass spectral analysis while preserving tissue morphology, as DMF-based systems do not extract cellular components that maintain tissue structure.
2Productivity
If the same tissue section is used for both MS imaging and histochemical staining, then workflow efficiency is improved, but tissue morphology must be preserved through non-destructive analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tissue section universally suitable for multiple analytical functions by using DMF-based DESI solvent systems that preserve morphology. The same tissue section can subsequently undergo H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, or other histochemical procedures, enabling multi-functional use of a single section and improving workflow efficiency without sacrificing morphological integrity.
3Shape
If morphologically friendly solvent systems (DMF:EtOH or DMF:H2O) are used, then tissue morphology is preserved, but conventional DESI-MS protocols must be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the DESI solvent system by incorporating DMF as the primary solvent component combined with ethanol or water. This parameter change in solvent composition enables morphology preservation while maintaining compatibility with standard DESI-MS instrumentation, requiring only solvent system modification rather than fundamental protocol redesign.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high-quality 2D DESI-MS ion images to be directly compared with H&E stained tissue sections, improving the correlation between lipid species distribution and tissue substructures, and allows for accurate cancer diagnosis without causing morphological damage to the tissue.
Implementation Method 1
desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to mass spectral analysis. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve analyzing a lipid containing sample using a mass spectrometry technique, in which the technique utilizes a liquid phase that does not destroy native tissue morphology during analysis. Due to the use of a liquid phase that does not destroy native tissue morphology during analysis, a subsequent staining technique can be performed on the tissue sample and an overlaid image can be produced of a mass spectral image and a staining image.