Fig. 2

An overview of new advantages in MSI analysis to visualize QS molecules in bacterial biofilms. All techniques are envisioned in a simplified and schematic manner. (A) Schematic visualization of classical MALDI-MSI. (B) Schematic visualization of MALDI-2. The ion cloud, created by the MALDI laser, will be impacted by a second laser. (C) Visualization of MALDI-IMS including an example of an IMS heat map visualizing the separation of molecules with a similar m/z based on their drift time. The ion mobility cell adds an extra separation to the ions created by MALDI. (D) A schematic visualization of IR-MALDI. An IR laser impacts the surface and eliminates the need for MALDI matrices. (E) A schematic visualization of SALDI. The analytes are transferred from the sample substrate to an assisting membrane. (F) Schematic visualization of a multimodal MSI approach using SIMS and MALDI, respectively. Part of this figure is created with BioRender.com