LAESI Mass Spectrometry
Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization: new technology for rapid and direct identification of biomolecules

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LAESI Mass Spectrometry (or LAESI-MS) is a breakthrough capability to identify proteins, peptides, lipids, metabolites and other biomolecules directly and rapidly in any sample that contains water content (e.g. tissues and aqueous samples). Invented in the laboratory of Dr. Akos Vertes, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Founder and Co-Director of the W.M. Keck Institute for Proteomics Technology, George Washington University, Washington D.C., LAESI-MS has already been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for basic research in biological and chemical sciences, has been published in peer-reviewed journals, and presented with acclaim at major international conferences.

In 2008, Protea Biosciences entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with George Washington University for commercial rights to the LAESI-MS. Our company is conducting ongoing product and service development of the LAESI-MS.

LAESI-MS allows the direct identification of biomolecules in tissue sections and cells, so that the destruction of the source sample is minimized. Extremely rapid (each local analysis takes less than 2 seconds) and sensitive, LAESI-MS provides both qualitative and quantitative data with 2D and 3D spatial analysis. Biomolecules and metabolites can be identified and localized in cell structures, tissues and fluids.

LAESI-MS represents a minimally invasive/minimally destructive approach to chemical analysis, which means that dynamic, e.g., living cells or tissues can be monitored not only in three dimensions, but also with time. Small sample consumption in LAESI-MS analysis means that the sample is still available for additional investigation.

Additionally, LAESI-MS is ideally suited for the rapid, sensitive, and direct analysis of biofluids and other aqueous samples that contain peptides, proteins, metabolites, and other biomarkers for clinical, diagnostic, and discovery workflows. High throughput analysis of these samples in 96- and 384-well microplates is enabled using LAESI-MS, and the use of internal standards permits absolute quantitation of targeted biomolecules.

LAESI-MS addresses a broad range of commercial applications in the fields of pharmaceutical and biological research, surgical and molecular pathology, clinical diagnostics, chemical and biological defense, forensics, agriculture, food process monitoring, and many others.

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