Trends in analytical atomic and molecular mass spectrometry in biology and the life sciences.

Trends in analytical atomic and molecular mass spectrometry (MS) are reviewed here with an emphasis on problems related to biology and the life sciences. The move towards novel desorption/ionization techniques including matrix-free laser desorption-ionization MS and recent technological developments in MS imaging of elements, small molecules, and proteins are discussed. Recent developments in the interfacing of microfluidics with MS are also reviewed. Metabolic profiling, evaluation of biomarkers, pharmaceutical metabolite identification, and many related topics are addressed.