The Metabolomics Core Facility at the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center is pleased to announce the addition of a Waters Xevo TQ Absolute XR Mass Spectrometer equipped with a Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) source, significantly expanding the Center’s capabilities in molecular imaging and spatial metabolomics.
The new instrument was acquired through generous support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, further enhancing the advanced analytical resources available to researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and collaborating institutions.
DESI mass spectrometry imaging enables researchers to visualize the spatial distribution of metabolites, lipids, pharmaceuticals, and other molecules directly from tissue sections and sample surfaces with minimal preparation. By preserving the spatial context of molecular information, DESI imaging provides insights that complement traditional metabolomics workflows, helping researchers better understand the relationship between chemistry and biology.
The addition of the Waters Xevo TQ Absolute XR with DESI capability will support a broad range of research applications, including:
- Spatial metabolomics and lipidomics
- Drug distribution and pharmacokinetic studies
- Cancer and disease research
- Plant and agricultural science
- Microbial interactions and environmental biology
- Biomarker discovery and validation
The instrument’s sensitivity and targeted analysis capabilities, combined with DESI imaging, provide researchers with a powerful platform for investigating molecular processes directly within biological tissues and other complex samples.