Bruker has launched its novel MALDI Tissuetyper solution at the Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics (ASMS) Conference at America’s Center in St Louis, Missouri.
Based on the new rapifleX MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry system, MALDI Tissuetyper can be used for biomarker discovery studies, as well as for multi-marker tissue-typing and classification.
The system re-defines key performance measures for MALDI imaging and enables completely new projects and measurement strategies. It features a removable, self-aligning ion source for enhanced customer service convenience.
Maastricht University Molecular Imaging professor Dr Ron Heeren said: "Translational clinically oriented research with mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is critically dependent on speed and robust operation.
"Current instrumentation has been limiting its full adaptation.
"The new rapifleX-based MALDI Tissuetyper solution allows us to finally overcome that limitation.
"It enables us to engage in high-throughput clinical studies and establishes MSI as a powerful and reliable information source for personalised medicine."
Germ Helmholtz-Center head of Analytical Pathology and Institute of Pathology professor Dr Axel Walch said: "The speed and performance of the MALDI Tissuetyper solution gives us for the first time the possibility to analyse even large tumour specimen over meaningful patient cohorts with sufficient spatial resolution to get a comprehensive understanding of tumour heterogeneity."
Designed only for research use, the MALDI Tissuetyper extracts molecular information as a proteomic fingerprint, displaying peptides and small proteins. Neither requires a molecular probe or an antibody such as traditional histological tissue analysis.
The new solution provides multiplex analysis of multiple potential biomarkers simultaneously in an untargeted approach, as well as complementary information to immunohistochemistry.
It uses the firm’s smartbeam 3D laser, which claims to offer a fast moving laser-beam that is synchronised with the movement of the MALDI target stage.
In addition, the system provides exclusive statistical analysis software and bioinformatics tools for data mining and visualisation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging datasets from multiple tissue sections.
Image: Bruker’s MALDI Tissuetyper solution. Photo: courtesy of Business Wire.
