Imaging of metabolites using secondary ion mass spectrometry

This article provides an overview of the technique of secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging and highlights some current and future areas of application relevant to the field of metabolomics. The approach benefits from label-free analysis of molecular species up to ~1500 Da with minimal sample preparation. Offering the highest spatial resolution of current mass spectrometry imaging methodologies, the technique is well-suited to metabolite imaging in both biological tissue and cells, in both 2D and 3D. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York.