1. Sheffield Multimodal Imaging Centre /
  2. Facilities and equipment /
  3. Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Mass spectrometry imaging allows researchers to explore not only which chemical components are present within a sample, but also where they are located. By analysing molecules directly from the sample surface, the technique can generate detailed chemical maps that reveal the distribution of compounds across tissues, materials and other complex samples.

At SMIC, we use a range of mass spectrometers equipped with different ionisation sources to support a variety of analytical and imaging applications. Our mass spectrometry imaging capabilities include MALDI, DESI and ICP-MS, with LESA equipment also available for targeted surface sampling and analysis.

Explore our mass spectrometry imaging equipment below:

Waters MRT DESI MS
Waters SELECT SERIES MRT with a DESI XS Source
  • 2 x SELECT SERIES MRT mass spectrometers (with DESI and MALDI sources) (Waters Corp)
  • 1 x SELECT SERIES Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometer (with DESI XS and nano LC) (Waters Corp)
Nexio 5000
Nexio 5000 LA-ICP-MS 

  • 1 Nexion 5000, TQ ICP-MS/ ImageBio 266 nm laser. 

Brucker Autoflex Equipment
Bruker Autoflex MALDI-MS

  • 2 x Autoflex MALDI TOF TOF (Bruker Daltonics)
  • 1 x Synapt G2 HDMS MALDI qTOF (Waters Corp)
  • 1 x Synapt XS qTOF with interchangeable LESA, ESI, nano UPLC (Waters Corp)
  • 1 x Xevo qTOF with UPLC (Waters Corp)
  • 1 x DESI XS XEVO TQ  (Waters Corp)
  • 2 X LC -ESI TQ with UHPLC/UPLC (Agilent)
  • 2 x LC-ESI Ion Trap (Thermo)
  • 1 x GC-QTOF with PAL 3 CTC II liquid/arrow SPME/headspace autosampler
  • 1 x 5975C MSD / 7890 GC-MS (Agilent)