Direct Sample Analysis Without Extraction Using Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization (LAESI)

Laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) is a technique for rapid sample introduction into a mass spectrometer. LAESI-MS can be used for rapid profiling of liquids and for in vivo mass spectrometry imaging experiments on biological samples without sample preparation steps, such as matrix application. This poster presents several applications of LAESI-MS including imaging of small molecules and lipid species in bacterial colonies, fungi, and flower petals.