Spatial Metabolite Profiling by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is rapidly maturing as an advanced method for spatial metabolite profiling. Herein, we provide an introduction to MSI including types of instrumentation, detailed sample preparation, data collection, overview of data analysis steps, software, common standards, and new developments. Further, we provide an overview of MSI in the clinical space over the past 3 years where MSI has been deployed in diverse research areas including cancer, neurobiology, lipidomics, and metabolite profiling and mapping to name only a few. We provide several examples demonstrating the applicability of MSI to spatially profile metabolites in unique systems requiring special considerations outside of the norm.