Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Biomaterials

• Compositional Analysis of the Influenza Virus Pre-Envelope Domain
• Identification of Aberrant Membrane Glycan Structures that Relate to Cancer Progression

Our ability to engineer tissues, prevent viral infection, and develop biomedical devices hinges upon an understanding of how cell membrane organization influences the cell's interactions with its environment. We are developing chemical imaging approaches that employ secondary ion mass spectrometry to directly image the distributions of different lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins within the membranes of individual cells with high lateral resolution. We are employing these methods to elucidate how cell membrane organization relates to the development of diseases such as influenza virus infection and cancer.