Keywords
mass spectrometry imaging
absolute quantification
relative quantification
Abstract
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has emerged as a cornerstone of modern biomedical analysis, enabling the spatial mapping of chemical species within tissues while preserving their histological context. This article reviews the methodology and challenges associated with the quantitative variant of this technique – qMSI (quantitative Mass Spectrometry Imaging). Particular attention is given to the distinction between relative and absolute quantification, with a focus on three principal calibration strategies: off-tissue, on-tissue, and biomimetic tissue homogenates. The limitations imposed by matrix effects and tissue heterogeneity – both of which compromise signal linearity and necessitate advanced normalization strategies – are critically discussed.
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