Market Outlook for Mass Spectrometry Imagers: The Window for Domestic Substitution Has Opened, with Demand Expanding from Research to Industry

A mass spectrometry imager is not a standalone instrument, but rather a system comprising an ‘ionisation source + mass spectrometer + imaging control and reconstruction software’. In the past, such systems relied heavily on imported turnkey solutions; once purchased, users were constrained by the original platform when it came to subsequent ionisation source upgrades and software adaptation. Over the past year or two, product configurations centred on independent imaging sources have begun to emerge, offering the market new options.

Three emerging trends

Firstly, localisation is shifting from ‘complete systems’ to ‘key modules’. A complete mass spectrometer system involves multiple subsystems, such as the analyser, vacuum and electronics, and achieving full localisation takes a long time. As the front-end module of the system, the imaging source has relatively well-defined technical boundaries, making it a more suitable starting point for breakthroughs. Neo Source INSTRUMENT’s MSI DPI and MSI LDPI are supplied as standalone imaging sources that can be integrated with users’ existing Agilent, AB SCIEX and Thermo mass spectrometers, effectively replacing the need to ‘replace the entire instrument’ with simply ‘replacing the front-end’.

Secondly, the focus of demand has shifted from pure research to industrial quality control. In the early days, mass spectrometry imaging was primarily used for generating figures and submitting papers in the fields of brain science and basic oncology research. Nowadays, pharmaceutical companies are concerned with whether the active ingredients in tablets are uniformly distributed, whilst food and traditional Chinese medicine research focuses on where target compounds are ‘located’ within samples. These scenarios place greater emphasis on the stability and reproducibility of the method, rather than the blind pursuit of extreme resolution.

Thirdly, resolution and throughput are now being discussed separately. Single-cell-level resolution of 2–3 μm (such as LDPI) is suitable for detailed mechanistic studies; 20–200 μm (such as DPI) is suitable for large-scale screening. Users no longer assume that ‘higher resolution is always better’, but rather select tools based on the specific problem at hand.

• Two resolution categories: MSI DPI 20–200 μm (tissue/material scale); MSI LDPI 2–3 μm (single-cell scale)

• Compatible platforms: the three leading brands—Agilent, AB SCIEX and Thermo

• Signal amplification: post-photoionisation technology can amplify weak signals by 1–3 orders of magnitude

Where is the opportunity?

The opportunity for domestically produced imaging sources does not lie in engaging in a ‘specs battle’ with imported complete systems, but rather in three key areas: firstly, reducing the cost of retrofitting existing mass spectrometry platforms for imaging; secondly, transforming methods validated by research institutes into stable, commercially available modules; and thirdly, tailoring solutions to the specific needs of domestic users in the quality control of traditional Chinese medicine, food and pharmaceuticals.

This also implies that the focus of competition will shift—from ‘whose instrument has the most impressive specifications’ to ‘whose source is more stable, whose software is more user-friendly, and whose interface with mainstream platforms is more hassle-free’. For purchasers, these are typically more practical considerations.

Constraints that still need to be addressed

The volume of data generated by mass spectrometry imaging increases rapidly as resolution rises. When imaging at high spatial resolution, the product of the number of pixels and the number of m/z channels in a single experiment often reaches the gigabyte (GB) level, placing demands on storage, pre-processing and visualisation. Any imaging source solution that merely addresses ‘clear imaging’ without resolving the issues of ‘sufficient storage capacity’ and ‘efficient data handling’ will still face obstacles to industrial implementation.

Overall, the mass spectrometry imaging market is currently in a transitional phase, moving ‘from a research toy to an industrial tool’. The window of opportunity for domestic production has opened, but this window belongs to suppliers who can ensure stable modules, seamless interfaces and a thorough understanding of application scenarios.