Recent Developments in Soft Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The soft laser desorption/ionization represented by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization is currently an indispensable method of analyzing a wide variety of compounds including biopolymers, synthetic polymers, endocrine disruptors, and metal complexes. In order to make the best of its potentials, a number of related techniques have been developed, being focused on sample preparation, matrix usage, sample targets, and mass analyzers. This review collects noticeable advances in these topics to suggest the directions of further investigation.