MALDI mass Spectrometry based proteomics for drug discovery & development.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDI) is a soft ionization technique for introducing wide range of analytes into a mass spectrometer (MS). MALDI MS is a powerful tool in drug discovery research and development, providing a high-throughput molecular analysis technique in both preclinical and clinical systems. In particular, MALDI MS is invaluable in the study of peptides and proteins that drive all biological functions. This technology is label-free, provides high specificity in molecular identification, and is high-throughput. MALDI MS has been used in biomarker discovery and quantitation in virtually all tissues, serum, plasma, CSF, and urine for diagnostics, patient stratification, and monitoring drug efficacy. Other applications include characterization of biological drugs, spatial mapping of biomarkers and drugs in tissues, drug screening, and toxicological assessment.