Targeted imaging of integrins in cancer tissues using photocleavable Ru(ii) polypyridine complexes as mass-tags†
Abstract
Targeted epitope-based mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) utilizes laser cleavable mass-tags bound to targeting moieties for detecting proteins in tissue sections. Our work constitutes the first proof-of-concept of a novel laser desorption ionization (LDI)-MSI strategy using photocleavable Ru(II) polypyridine complexes as mass-tags for imaging of integrins αvβ3 in human cancer tissues.