Transfer plate Poropare

Poropare provides a novel mass spectrometry imaging without thin sectioning and matrix-spraying in mass spectrometry imaging.

Expands the possibilities of mass spectrometry imaging!

Hamamatsu developed Poropare by leveraging our unique glass-forming and thin-film deposition technologies. It features a robust porous structure with an ionization-assisting layer that simplifies sample preparation for mass spectrometry imaging.

 

Poropare enables ‘transfer’ sampling, eliminating the need for thin sectioning the samples commonly used in mass spectrometry imaging. This innovation significantly expands the range of applications.

(Reference)

Ikeda, T., & Kotani, M. (2024). Thin-Section- and Matrix-Free Mass Spectrometry Imaging: Reproducible Sample Transfer Using Novel Platinum-Coated Porous Plate Formed of Glass Beads. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom., 38(6), e9697. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.9697

Concept

Easy measure of a wide range of samples without thin sectioning

With Poropare, sample preparation is completed by simply pressing (transferring) the sample measurement surface onto the active surface.

Poropare eliminates the most difficult process of thin sectioning, while the ionization-assisting layer on the active surface of Poropare makes matrix-free measurements.

Step1

Cut to expose the measurement surface.

Step2

Press the sample onto Poropare.

Step3

Easy for anyone to do!

Challenging / impossible thin sectioning for some samples

Conventionally, sample preparation for mass spectrometry imaging is a complicated process. It requires a microtome machine, such as a cryostat, to cut frozen samples into thin sections. Consequently, the samples that can be measured are limited to those that can be frozen and cut into thin sections.

Step1

Cut sample into thin sections.

Step2

Apply the matrix coating.

Step3

Many steps are required....

Application

Poropare offers a novel method called “transferring” for sample preparation.  For example, samples difficult to cut into thin sections, such as plants or surface contamination, can now be measured by making the measurement surface come into actual contact with the active surface of Poropare.

 

After measuring a strawberry cross-section using Poropare, the results clearly show the localization of metabolites such as sugar. Due to the high water absorbency of Poropare, there is almost no delocalization, which can be caused by moisture bleeding. Even samples that are not thin and flat, such as flowers and leaves, can be pressed onto Poropare to transfer an image of the entire surface. Surface contamination can also be selectively sampled by transferring, allowing imaging without background signals of the base material. The robustness of Poropare achieves these approaches.

Strawberries

Imaging of fruits

Cherry blossom petals

Imaging of flower petals

Azalea leaves

Imaging of leaf surface

Films

Imaging of film surface contamination

Please contact us if our FAQ did not answer your questions.

Please note that we might not be able to respond to some inquiries depending on the content of your inquiry such as those relating to a specific individual analysis.