Rapid, Sensitive, and Versatile: A 5-Year Perspective on Applications of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry in Bioanalytical Science.

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a widely recognized analytical technique that can be applied to both large and small molecules and is a potent analytical tool that advances both basic science and practical applications in and out of the lab. MS has become a desirable analytical technique in clinical and bioanalytical labs with its high sensitivity, broad applicability, and throughput benefits. Numerous MS approaches, combined with various separation methods including gas and liquid chromatography, have been proposed to examine intricate matrices. Nevertheless, this technique could be limited by the labor-intensive and drawn-out sample preparation needed before MS analysis. By enabling the direct MS analysis of complex materials under ambient settings with little to no sample pretreatment, AIMS has cut down on both analysis time and expense. Nonetheless, these methods' speed and simplicity make them appropriate for use in critical care and point-of-care testing. Because of this, ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) has inevitably appealed to a wide range of scientists. The field of AIMS has grown tremendously since its foundation in the mid-2000s, marked by the emergence of numerous new ion sources, a plethora of fascinating applications, and a discernible increase in interest from various fields of study. Around the world, ambient ionization techniques are becoming more and more widespread in laboratories as the science advances yearly. This review focuses on the recent bioanalytical applications of AIMS in fields such as clinics, drugs, forensics, food, and environment, with a specific emphasis on the research reported in manuscripts published during the last 5 years. Although certain methodological developments are mentioned in this review, its primary goal is to demonstrate the practical applications of AIMS in bioanalytical fields. A timely overview of AIMS-based procedures and their application in various sample situations is what this endeavor seeks to give bioanalytical researchers. Moreover, several cutting-edge biological applications have been highlighted to explain how the AIMS area can develop in the future. In this chapter, readers will be provided with a quick overview of the main AIMS methodologies and their recent applied use cases.