Georgia Tech researchers develop framework to improve mass spectrometry imaging

Researchers at Georgia Tech, led by Professor Andrei Fedorov and Ph.D. student John Sentmanat, have developed a new framework to reduce the trial-and-error process involved in mass spectrometry imaging (MSI).

MSI is a powerful tool used to map the location of molecules within tissue samples, which can assist in cancer research, brain chemistry studies, and drug distribution analysis. However, the process of finding optimal conditions for useful results has traditionally relied on empirical intuition and experience.

The new approach, published in Analytical Chemistry, functions as a predictable recipe that helps scientists understand how various conditions interact to produce specific molecular information. This framework aims to make MSI more accessible and provide a standardized starting point for studying the molecular workings of the human body.