MSI involves the application of mass spectrometry to thin tissue sections. The process typically begins with the preparation of the tissue sample, which is then subjected to a matrix application. The matrix helps ionize the molecules in the tissue when exposed to a laser or other ionization source. The ionized molecules are then analyzed by the mass spectrometer, which measures their mass-to-charge ratio. The resulting data is used to create detailed maps showing the distribution of specific molecules within the tissue.
