In the field of biomarker discovery, researchers are screening for different classes of molecules. Some groups are employing a proteomic approach with classical separation techniques like 2D-PAGE or 2D chromatographic approaches to investigate peptide or protein levels. Other screening methods can also be utilised, evaluating the metabolite or lipid components.

Frequently the difficulty in biomarker discovery is in the sample reproducibility and sample treatment over the whole process, ensuring that detected differences are valid. Also, significant differences must clearly be identified and correlated to a disease or sample type.

Fast, simple and reproducible methods are therefore essential when attempting this kind of screening approach.

In recent years, MALDI tissue profiling and imaging has come in to focus and gained increasing popularity. The scientist can section the crude tissue sample as a starting material. Instead of intensive sample treatments and fractionation, the analysis can be performed directly from the tissue section after applying the appropriate MALDI matrix.

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1. LCMS-QIT-TOF: High-speed liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer for structural analysis