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Preparation is described of the surface of the first monoisotopic cationic (109)Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), covering commercial and modified MALDI targets, along with examples of the use in MS analyses of various low-molecular-weight (LMW) organic compounds, including alkaloids, saccharides, amino acids, nucleosides, nucleic bases, and other organics. The new targets, compared to those covered by naturally occurring silver, allow analyte detection with higher sensitivity, mass accuracy, and resolution. Moreover, monoisotopic triatomic silver cations (109)Ag(3)(+) appear to be applicable for analyte cationization.

Silver nanoparticles have been successfully applied as a matrix replacement for the laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-ToF-MS). Nanoparticles, producing spectra with highly reduced chemical background in the low m/z region, are perfectly suited for low-molecular weight compound analysis and imaging. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can efficiently absorb ultraviolet laser radiation, transfer energy to the analyte and promote analyte desorption, but also constitute a source of silver ions suitable for analyte cationisation. This review provides an overview of the literature on silver nanomaterials as non-conventional desorption and ionization promoters in LDI-MS and mass spectrometry imaging.