Ambient desorption ionization mass spectrometry (DART, DESI) and its bioanalytical applications

In recent years, ambient desorption ionization techniques for mass spectrometry were introduced. Among them, the most established techniques are Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI). Therefore, the current review focuses on the bioanalytical applications of ambient desorption ionization techniques by the example of DART and DESI mass spectrometry. The potential and also limitations of both ambient mass spectrometry (MS) techniques in such areas, as identification and quantitation of small molecules, coupling DART-MS and DESI-MS with planar chromatography, protein/peptide analysis, as well as molecular imaging applications, are discussed. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.