Recent advances in metal organic frameworks and their derivatives for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in metabolic finger printing

Abstract

Metabolic fingerprinting, a key component of metabolomics, has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding disease mechanisms by mapping low-molecular-weight metabolites in biological samples. Among the various analytical methods, laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) stands out due to its label-free, highly sensitive, and efficient approach to metabolic fingerprinting. However, LDI-MS is often hindered by issues related to desorption/ionization efficiency, prompting the development of advanced matrix materials. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives have demonstrated significant potential as effective matrices for LDI-MS. This minireview discusses recent advancements in MOF-based matrices, highlighting their structural characteristics, functional modifications, doping strategies and derivatives. We explore how these materials enhance the detection performance and also facilitate the underlying mechanisms of LDI-MS. Additionally, this review also covers the applications of MOF-based materials in various disease categories, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders, illustrating their potential for disease diagnosis, subtype classification and prognosis.