Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a label free technique capable of providing simultaneous identification and localization of biomolecules. A multimodal approach is required that allows for the study of the complexity of biological tissue samples to overcome the limitations of a single MSI technique. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) allows for high spatial resolution imaging while matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI) offers a significantly wider mass range. The combination of coregistered SIMS and MALDI images results in detailed and unique biomolecular information. In this Technical Note, we describe how gold sputtered/implanted fiducial markers (FM) are created and can be used to ensure a proper overlay and coregistration of the two-dimensional images provided by the two MSI modalities.

ACS
doi.org/10.1021/ac500308s
Anal. Chem.

Potocnik, N. O., Skraskova, K., Flinders, B., Pelicon, P., & Heeren, R. (2014). Gold sputtered fiducial markers for combined secondary ion mass spectrometry and MALDI imaging of tissue samples. Anal. Chem., 86(14), 6781–6785. doi:10.1021/ac500308s