Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review
Hair can record chemical information reflecting our living conditions, and, therefore, strands of hair have become a potent analytical target within the biological and forensic sciences. While early efforts focused on analyzing complete hair strands in bulk, high spatial resolution mass spectrometry...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/24/7522 |
| _version_ | 1797502182428246016 |
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| author | Mai H. Philipsen Emma R. Haxen Auraya Manaprasertsak Per Malmberg Emma U. Hammarlund |
| author_facet | Mai H. Philipsen Emma R. Haxen Auraya Manaprasertsak Per Malmberg Emma U. Hammarlund |
| author_sort | Mai H. Philipsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hair can record chemical information reflecting our living conditions, and, therefore, strands of hair have become a potent analytical target within the biological and forensic sciences. While early efforts focused on analyzing complete hair strands in bulk, high spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has recently come to the forefront of chemical hair-strand analysis. MSI techniques offer a localized analysis, requiring fewer de-contamination procedures per default and making it possible to map the distribution of analytes on and within individual hair strands. Applying the techniques to hair samples has proven particularly useful in investigations quantifying the exposure to, and uptake of, toxins or drugs. Overall, MSI, combined with optimized sample preparation protocols, has improved precision and accuracy for identifying several elemental and molecular species in single strands of hair. Here, we review different sample preparation protocols and use cases with a view to make the methodology more accessible to researchers outside of the field of forensic science. We conclude that—although some challenges remain, including contamination issues and matrix effects—MSI offers unique opportunities for obtaining highly resolved spatial information of several compounds simultaneously across hair surfaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:29:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e9a6db37cba4a28a5d3d978f4fef8a8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:29:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e9a6db37cba4a28a5d3d978f4fef8a82023-11-23T09:45:23ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-12-012624752210.3390/molecules26247522Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A ReviewMai H. Philipsen0Emma R. Haxen1Auraya Manaprasertsak2Per Malmberg3Emma U. Hammarlund4Lund University Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, SwedenLund University Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, SwedenLund University Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, SwedenLund University Cancer Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, SwedenHair can record chemical information reflecting our living conditions, and, therefore, strands of hair have become a potent analytical target within the biological and forensic sciences. While early efforts focused on analyzing complete hair strands in bulk, high spatial resolution mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has recently come to the forefront of chemical hair-strand analysis. MSI techniques offer a localized analysis, requiring fewer de-contamination procedures per default and making it possible to map the distribution of analytes on and within individual hair strands. Applying the techniques to hair samples has proven particularly useful in investigations quantifying the exposure to, and uptake of, toxins or drugs. Overall, MSI, combined with optimized sample preparation protocols, has improved precision and accuracy for identifying several elemental and molecular species in single strands of hair. Here, we review different sample preparation protocols and use cases with a view to make the methodology more accessible to researchers outside of the field of forensic science. We conclude that—although some challenges remain, including contamination issues and matrix effects—MSI offers unique opportunities for obtaining highly resolved spatial information of several compounds simultaneously across hair surfaces.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/24/7522mass spectrometry imaginghair analysissample preparation |
| spellingShingle | Mai H. Philipsen Emma R. Haxen Auraya Manaprasertsak Per Malmberg Emma U. Hammarlund Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review Molecules mass spectrometry imaging hair analysis sample preparation |
| title | Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review |
| title_full | Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review |
| title_short | Mapping the Chemistry of Hair Strands by Mass Spectrometry Imaging—A Review |
| title_sort | mapping the chemistry of hair strands by mass spectrometry imaging a review |
| topic | mass spectrometry imaging hair analysis sample preparation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/24/7522 |
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