Bruker Daltonik GmbH
and Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH today announced the integration of the MIRAX
Virtual Slide Scanner from Carl Zeiss into Bruker’s MALDI Molecular Imager™.
The goal of the Bruker–Carl Zeiss collaboration is to advance molecular
histology research by providing an integrated solution (for research use only)
for biological tissue research and pathology that adds non-targeted molecular
information and ‘molecular contrast’ to histology.
The MALDI Molecular Imager is a molecular imaging system based on matrix-assisted
laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry directly
from tissue sections. It allows histology researchers to measure spatially resolved
peptide, protein and lipid profiles in tissue sections. MALDI imaging is a non-targeted,
broadly applicable molecular imaging approach without the need for any antibody
or nucleotide probe. Tissue-type specific molecular signatures (e.g. from tumors)
can be generated and used for biomarker discovery and molecular histology.
A major bottleneck in the interpretation of MALDI imaging data in pathology
research has been the interpretation of results in a histological context. Until
now, this has required repeated switching between evaluated MALDI molecular
images and microscope views. The integration of Carl Zeiss’ MIRAX Slide
Scanner results into the MALDI Molecular Imager solution allows the direct overlay
of the full microscopic image with the full molecular and spectral information
in one convenient visualization software tool, enabling true untargeted molecular
histology.
Dr. Sören-Oliver Deininger, MALDI Imaging Product Specialist at Bruker
Daltonics, explained: “Bruker has been the market and commercial technology
leader in MALDI imaging for several years. Proprietary technologies such as
the smartbeam™ laser for best spectra quality at highest speed and best
spatial resolution, as well as the Bruker ImagePrep™ for easy and reproducible
sample preparation, have turned MALDI imaging into a mainstream research application.
Now, the full integration of the MIRAX virtual slides allows tissue and pathology
researchers for the first time to evaluate their results directly in the histological
context with the full spatial resolution of optical microscopy and the molecular
information from MALDI imaging.
“This integrated molecular histology solution will significantly accelerate
clinical pathology research, particularly in oncology, where the untargeted
molecular information is expected to reveal additional subtle changes in tissue
that cannot be distinguished by traditional histology methods today.”
“The integration of the MIRAX Virtual Slide Scanner into the MALDI Molecular
Imager solution is a very good example of how the combination of two innovative
technologies can create new benefits for biomedical research. With two technology
leaders working together, we believe that we have a strong foundation for a
novel, breakthrough histology solution. We look forward to working closely together
with Bruker,” said Dr. Richard Ankerhold, business unit manager from Carl
Zeiss.
Dr. Axel Walch, a pathologist at the Helmholtz Centre in Munich, and a user
of both the MALDI Molecular Imager and the MIRAX slide scanner, commented: “The
protein expression observed in MALDI Imaging data cannot be fully understood
without the underlying histological information: the correlation of the MALDI
image with a micrometer-resolution microscopic image is therefore mandatory
for MALDI Imaging in clinical research. The Zeiss Mirax Scanner has the true
advantage of online scalable high lateral resolution that can zoom in quickly
to any tissue sections investigated by MALDI. Merging both techniques, Bruker
MALDI Imaging and MIRAX virtual microscopy, leads to synergistic effects with
outstanding benefits for clinical research. It truly completes the superior
Bruker product line for imaging comprising of sample preparation, high performance
MALDI mass spectrometry and highly sophisticated software for data interpretation.”