Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry detection of a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent in mouse liver

Anal Chem. 2009 Apr 1;81(7):2779-84. doi: 10.1021/ac900038y.

Abstract

The present paper describes the detection of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). The contrast agent was analyzed in both frozen and paraformaldehyde-fixed mouse livers explanted after its in vivo administration, and its identity was confirmed by fragmentation experiments. Moreover, a semiquantitative analysis was performed, evaluating its content in livers from mice sacrificed at different postadministration times. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of a MALDI-IMS analysis of MRI contrast agents and the first time that results obtained by MALDI-IMS are validated by both an in vivo (MRI) and an ex vivo (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, ICP-AES) technique. Results shown in the present paper demonstrate the possibility of using MALDI-IMS for drug biodistribution analysis. Obviously, this application is particularly interesting in the case of unlabeled compounds, which cannot be detected by any of the other imaging techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage
  • Contrast Media / analysis*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Contrast Media