Time-of-Flight SIMS: Analysis in Life Sciences

摘要

In Life Sciences, chemical characterisationwith Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) has found interest due to high surface sensitivity down to the femtomol range, and an information depth limited to the top-surface in the nanometer range, combined with molecular imaging capabilities in the micrometer range [1-3]. Selected examples given in this overview concern recent applications like dendritic nano-polymer molecules, immobilisation of sugar molecules on surfaces, neural cell adhesion, and characterisation of engineered surfaces (velence biosensors). These examples illustrate advantages and possible limitations of ToF-SIMS in applied research.