Metallomics Injects a New Dimension of Elemental Imaging Into Spatial Multi-omics
Professor Meng Wang and his team at the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences—TOFWERK’s icpTOF Center of Excellence in China—were recently interviewed by Thermo Fisher Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry China. They shared insights into their pioneering work in spatial metallomics, a new dimension of spatial omics that uses high-resolution elemental imaging to explore complex biological and environmental systems. Leveraging advanced ICP-TOFMS technology, particularly the icpTOF 2R, combined with a high-speed laser ablation system, the team has dramatically improved imaging speed and spatial resolution, enabling single-cell and subcellular analyses.
This technological development addresses long standing limitations of traditional LA-ICP-MS systems, such as low throughput and resolution, making metal element imaging applicable to real-world biomedical and environmental research. The team is applying this innovation in areas like cancer therapy, nanotoxicology, and pollution source tracking.
Their spatial multi-omics mass spectrometry platform integrates ICP-TOFMS with other high-resolution techniques to study the interaction of metal elements with biomolecules in tandem with genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Notably, their work includes elemental fingerprinting to trace nanoparticle behavior in cells and to identify sources of atmospheric particulate matter.
Wang highlights the importance of AI-driven data integration and interdisciplinary collaboration in unlocking the full potential of spatial omics. His team’s efforts are not only pushing the boundaries of analytical science but also supporting broader research across China by offering services through this state-of-the-art platform.
