Lipid metabolism abnormalities can lead to diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, however, the relationship between the heterogeneity of the cells constituting tissues and the disease state remains underexplored. Here, the authors develop a tapping-mode scanning probe electrospray ionization system for single-cell mass spectrometry imaging to visualize lipid distributions in individual HeLa cells and to further understand cellular heterogeneity.
- Yoichi Otsuka
- Kazuya Kabayama
- Michisato Toyoda