Bruker and Carl Zeiss Announce Collaboration to Advance Molecular Histology
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Bruker Daltonik GmbH and Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH have announced the integration of the MIRAX Virtual Slide Scanner from Carl Zeiss into Bruker's MALDI Molecular Imager™. The goal of the Bruker-Carl Zeiss collaboration is to advance molecular histology research by providing an integrated solution (for research use only) for biological tissue research and pathology that adds non-targeted molecular information and 'molecular contrast' to histology.
The MALDI Molecular Imager is a molecular imaging system based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry directly from tissue sections. It allows histology researchers to measure spatially resolved peptide, protein and lipid profiles in tissue sections. MALDI imaging is a non-targeted, broadly applicable molecular imaging approach without the need for any antibody or nucleotide probe. Tissue-type specific molecular signatures can be generated and used for biomarker discovery and molecular histology.
A major bottleneck in the interpretation of MALDI imaging data in pathology research has been the interpretation of results in a histological context. Until now, this has required repeated switching between evaluated MALDI molecular images and microscope views.
The integration of Carl Zeiss' MIRAX Slide Scanner results into the MALDI Molecular Imager solution allows the direct overlay of the full microscopic image with the full molecular and spectral information in one visualization software tool, enabling untargeted molecular histology.
Dr. Sören-Oliver Deininger, MALDI Imaging Product Specialist at Bruker Daltonics, explained: "Bruker has been the market and commercial technology leader in MALDI imaging for several years. Proprietary technologies such as the smartbeam™ laser for best spectra quality at highest speed and best spatial resolution, as well as the Bruker ImagePrep™ for reproducible sample preparation, have turned MALDI imaging into a mainstream research application.
Now, the full integration of the MIRAX virtual slides allows tissue and pathology researchers for the first time to evaluate their results directly in the histological context with the full spatial resolution of optical microscopy and the molecular information from MALDI imaging.
"This integrated molecular histology solution will significantly accelerate clinical pathology research, particularly in oncology, where the untargeted molecular information is expected to reveal additional subtle changes in tissue that cannot be distinguished by traditional histology methods today."
"The integration of the MIRAX Virtual Slide Scanner into the MALDI Molecular Imager solution is a very good example of how the combination of two innovative technologies can create new benefits for biomedical research. With two technology leaders working together, we believe that we have a strong foundation for a novel, breakthrough histology solution. We look forward to working closely together with Bruker," said Dr. Richard Ankerhold, business unit manager from Carl Zeiss.
The MALDI Molecular Imager is a molecular imaging system based on matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry directly from tissue sections. It allows histology researchers to measure spatially resolved peptide, protein and lipid profiles in tissue sections. MALDI imaging is a non-targeted, broadly applicable molecular imaging approach without the need for any antibody or nucleotide probe. Tissue-type specific molecular signatures can be generated and used for biomarker discovery and molecular histology.
A major bottleneck in the interpretation of MALDI imaging data in pathology research has been the interpretation of results in a histological context. Until now, this has required repeated switching between evaluated MALDI molecular images and microscope views.
The integration of Carl Zeiss' MIRAX Slide Scanner results into the MALDI Molecular Imager solution allows the direct overlay of the full microscopic image with the full molecular and spectral information in one visualization software tool, enabling untargeted molecular histology.
Dr. Sören-Oliver Deininger, MALDI Imaging Product Specialist at Bruker Daltonics, explained: "Bruker has been the market and commercial technology leader in MALDI imaging for several years. Proprietary technologies such as the smartbeam™ laser for best spectra quality at highest speed and best spatial resolution, as well as the Bruker ImagePrep™ for reproducible sample preparation, have turned MALDI imaging into a mainstream research application.
Now, the full integration of the MIRAX virtual slides allows tissue and pathology researchers for the first time to evaluate their results directly in the histological context with the full spatial resolution of optical microscopy and the molecular information from MALDI imaging.
"This integrated molecular histology solution will significantly accelerate clinical pathology research, particularly in oncology, where the untargeted molecular information is expected to reveal additional subtle changes in tissue that cannot be distinguished by traditional histology methods today."
"The integration of the MIRAX Virtual Slide Scanner into the MALDI Molecular Imager solution is a very good example of how the combination of two innovative technologies can create new benefits for biomedical research. With two technology leaders working together, we believe that we have a strong foundation for a novel, breakthrough histology solution. We look forward to working closely together with Bruker," said Dr. Richard Ankerhold, business unit manager from Carl Zeiss.
