Temperature-Tuning Desorption Ionization for Ambient Mass Spectrometry

In the past decade, mass spectrometry (MS) has been widelyusedfor a broad range of on-site applications. This is largely attributedto the rapid advancement of technologies, such as ambient ionizationand mass spectrometer miniaturization. Here, we report the developmentof the temperature-tuning desorption ionization (TTDI) method forversatile on-site applications using a miniature MS system. A uniquefeature of TTDI is its dynamic temperature range applicable from 30to 800 & DEG;C, which enables optimal desorption ionization appliedfor chemical and biological compounds through tuning the temperatureat the sampling spot. The versatility of TTDI has been demonstratedthrough on-site MS analysis of a variety of samples, such as explosiveson surfaces, drugs of abuse in biofluids, and screening biomarkersin tissues.