Application of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Food Analysis

Abstract

Food contains various compounds, and there are many methods available to analyze each of these components. However, the large amounts of low-molecular-weight metabolites in food, such as amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, lipids, and toxins, make it difficult to analyze the spatial distribution of these molecules. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) imaging is a two-dimensional ionization technology that allows the detection of small metabolites in tissue sections without requiring purification, extraction, separation, or labeling. The application of MALDI-MS imaging in food analysis improves the visualization of these compounds to identify not only the nutritional content but also the geographical origin of the food. In this review, we provide an overview of some recent applications of MALDI-MS imaging, demonstrating the advantages and prospects of this technology compared to conventional approaches. Further development and enhancement of MALDI-MS imaging is expected to offer great benefits to consumers, researchers, and food producers with respect to breeding improvement, traceability, the development of value-added foods, and improved safety assessments.

Novel Blotting Method for Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Metabolites in Strawberry Fruit by Desorption/Ionization Using Through Hole Alumina Membrane

“…MSI has been used to separate various metabolites based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and to visualize their distribution in tissues. Recently, MSI was adapted for analysis of metabolites in foods and was successfully used for visualization using soft ionization techniques, such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] or desorption ESI [18,19]. These techniques generally require preparation of thin sections (usually 10-20 µm) of the samples using a cryomicrotome.…”

Recent developments of MALDI MSI application in plant tissues analysis

“…It can also affect the efficiency of analyte extraction from the tissue. Typically, 5-20 µm thick sections are prepared for MALDI MS imaging (Morisasa et al, 2019). The frozen sections are then transferred to a metal or glass plate, previously kept at room temperature.…”

The Application of Metabolomics for the Study of Cereal Corn (Zea mays L.)

“…Unlike the high-throughput analytical platforms such as LC/GC-MS for metabolomic studies, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a relatively recent non-targeted method used for the simultaneous analysis of both the composition and spatial distribution of many compounds [114]. MSI is a two-dimensional analysis method that can detect intact molecules within tissue sections without requiring extraction, purification, separation, or labeling while allowing the detection of a wide range of molecules [114,115]. MSI has the capability to image thousands of metabolites such as lipids, peptides, proteins, and secondary metabolites (including phenolic compounds) in a single experiment [116][117][118].…”