Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry of matrix-diluted oligo- and polypeptides bombarded with slow and fast projectiles: positive and negative matrix and analyte ion yields, background signals, and sample aging

Improvement of biomolecular analysis in thin films using in situ matrix enhanced secondary ion mass spectrometry

Sensitivity to molecular ions remains a limiting factor for high resolution imaging mass spectrometry of organic and biological materials. Here, we investigate a variant of matrix-enhanced secondary ion mass spectrometry in which the transfer of matrix molecules to the analyte sample is carried out in situ (in situ ME-SIMS). This approach is therefore compatible with both 2D and 3D imaging by SIMS. In this exploratory study, nanoscale matrix layers were sputter-transferred inside our time-of-flight (ToF)-SIMS to a series of thin films of biomolecules (proteins, sugars, lipids) adsorbed on silicon, and the resulting layers were analyzed and depth-profiled. For this purpose, matrix molecules were desorbed from a coated target (obtained by drop-casting or sublimation) using 10 keV Ar₃₀₀₀⁺ ion beam sputtering, followed by redeposition on a collector carrying the sample to be analyzed. After evaluating the quality of the transfer of six different matrices on bare Si collectors, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) was selected for further experiments. The mass spectra and depth profiles obtained from the organic layer prior to and after the sputter-transfer of CHCA were compared, along with those obtained from regular ME-SIMS samples (dried droplets) and, finally, with MALDI data for the same matrix-analyte combinations. Signal amplification factors were calculated by dividing the integrated molecular intensities obtained with or without matrix transfer. While the amplification factors are between 0.5 and 2 for molecules already detected with high intensities in SIMS, such as cholesterol or human angiotensin, other compounds show very large integrated signal amplification, even above two orders of magnitude. This is the case for D-glucose and cardiolipin, for which the molecular ion intensity is low (or very low) under normal SIMS analysis conditions. For such low ionization probability compounds, the beneficial effect of the matrix is unquestionable. Test experiments on mouse brain tissue sections also indicate signal enhancement with the matrix, especially for high mass lipid ions.

Large cluster ions: soft local probes and tools for organic and bio surfaces

Ionised cluster beams have been produced and employed for thin film deposition and surface processing for half a century. In the last two decades, kiloelectronvolt cluster ions have also proved to be outstanding for surface characterisation by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), because their sputter and ion yields are enhanced in a non-linear fashion with respect to monoatomic projectiles, with a resulting step change of sensitivity for analysis and imaging. In particular, large gas cluster ion beams, or GCIB, have now become a reference in organic surface and thin film analysis using SIMS and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The reason is that they induce soft molecular desorption and offer the opportunity to conduct damageless depth-profiling and 3D molecular imaging of the most sensitive organic electronics and biological samples, with a nanoscale depth resolution. In line with these recent developments, the present review focuses on rather weakly-bound, light-element cluster ions, such as noble or other gas clusters, and water or alcohol nanodroplets (excluding clusters made of metals, inorganic salts or ionic liquids) and their interaction with surfaces (essentially, but not exclusively, organic). The scope of this article encompasses three aspects. The first one is the fundamentals of large cluster impacts with surfaces, using the wealth of information provided by molecular dynamics simulations and experimental observations. The second focus is on recent applications of large cluster ion beams in surface characterisation, including mass spectrometric analysis and 2D localisation of large molecules, molecular depth-profiling and 3D molecular imaging. Finally, the perspective explores cutting edge developments, involving (i) new types of clusters with a chemistry designed to enhance performance for mass spectrometry imaging, (ii) the use of cluster fragment ion backscattering to locally retrieve physical surface properties and (iii) the fabrication of new biosurface and thin film architectures, where large cluster ion beams are used as tools to transfer biomolecules in vacuo from a target reservoir to any collector substrate.

Graphene Oxide as a Novel Evenly Continuous Phase Matrix for TOF-SIMS

Using matrix to enhance the molecular ion signals for biomolecule identification without loss of spatial resolution caused by matrix crystallization is a great challenge for the application of TOF-SIMS in real-world biological research. In this report, graphene oxide (GO) was used as a matrix for TOF-SIMS to improve the secondary ion yields of intact molecular ions ([M + H]⁺). Identifying and distinguishing the molecular ions of lipids (m/z >700) therefore became straightforward. The spatial resolution of TOF-SIMS imaging could also be improved as GO can form a homogeneous layer of matrix instead of crystalline domain, which prevents high spatial resolution in TOF-SIMS imaging. Lipid mapping in presence of GO revealed the delicate morphology and distribution of single vesicles with a diameter of 800 nm. On GO matrix, the vesicles with similar shape but different chemical composition could be distinguished using molecular ions. This novel matrix holds potentials in such applications as the analysis and imaging of complex biological samples by TOF-SIMS. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Organic secondary ion mass spectrometry: signal enhancement by water vapor injection

The enhancement of the static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) signals resulting from the injection, closely to the sample surface, of H(2)O vapor at relatively high-pressure, was investigated for a set of organic materials. While the ion signals are generally improved with increasing H(2)O pressure upon 12 keV Ga(+) bombardment, a specific enhancement of the protonated ion intensity is clearly demonstrated in each case. For instance, the presence of H(2)O vapor induces an enhancement by one order of magnitude of the [M + H](+) static SIMS intensity for the antioxidant Irgafos 168 and a ∼1.5-fold increase for polymers such as poly(vinyl pyrrolidone).

Cellular imaging using matrix-enhanced and metal-assisted SIMS

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows the direct investigation of both the identity and the spatial distribution of the entire molecular content directly in tissue sections, single cells, and many other biological surfaces. We describe here the steps required to retrieve the molecular information from tissue sections using matrix-enhanced (ME) and metal-assisted (MetA) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Surface metallization by plasma coating enhances desorption/ionization of membrane components such as lipids and sterols in imaging time-of-flight (ToF) SIMS of tissues and cells. High-resolution images of cholesterol and other membrane components can be obtained for single neuroblastoma cells and reveal subcellular details. Alternatively, in ME-SIMS, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid electrosprayed on neuroblastoma cells allows intact molecular ion imaging of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) at the cellular level.

Imaging mass spectrometry: viewing the future

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) technology is an effective tool that is able to assess complex molecular mixtures in cells, tissues, or other sample types with high chemical specificity, allowing concurrent analysis of a variety of molecular species in a wide mass range, from small metabolites to large macromolecules such as proteins. Simultaneous localization of molecules, detection of post-translational modifications, and relative quantitative information can be obtained in a single experiment. Images generated by MS are unique because they are derived from direct molecular measurements and do not rely on target-specific reagents such as antibodies. Thus, the ability to map spatial distributions coupled with the mass accuracy and chemical specificity for MS-based detection makes IMS an effective discovery tool. Further structural assessment of compounds, including MS/MS fragmentation analysis, can be utilized in an imaging experiment to achieve accurate molecular identifications.

Surface analysis by imaging mass spectrometry

A review of four MS-based techniques available for molecular surface imaging is presented. The main focus is on the commercially available mass spectrometry imaging techniques: secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) and laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). A short historical perspective is presented and traditional desorption ionization techniques are also briefly described. The four techniques are compared mainly with respect to their usage for imaging of biological surfaces. MALDI is evaluated as the most successful in life sciences and the only technique usable for imaging of large biopolymers. SIMS is less common but offers superior spatial lateral resolution and DESI is considered to be an emerging alternative approach in mass spectrometry imaging. LA-ICP ionization is unbeatable in terms of limits of detection but does not provide structural information. All techniques are considered extremely useful, representing a new wave of expansion of mass spectrometry into surface science and bioanalysis. A minireview with 121 references.

Imaging mass spectrometry at cellular length scales

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) allows the direct investigation of both the identity and the spatial distribution of the molecular content directly in tissue sections, single cells and many other biological surfaces. In this protocol, we present the steps required to retrieve the molecular information from tissue sections using matrix-enhanced (ME) and metal-assisted (MetA) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) IMS. These techniques require specific sample preparation steps directed at optimal signal intensity with minimal redistribution or modification of the sample analytes. After careful sample preparation, different IMS methods offer a unique discovery tool in, for example, the investigation of (i) drug transport and uptake, (ii) biological processing steps and (iii) biomarker distributions. To extract the relevant information from the huge datasets produced by IMS, new bioinformatics approaches have been developed. The duration of the protocol is highly dependent on sample size and technique used, but on average takes approximately 5 h.

Suppression and enhancement of secondary ion formation due to the chemical environment in static-secondary ion mass spectrometry

Through analyzing mixtures of compounds of known gas-phase basicities, the importance of this property on the secondary ions emitted from a surface under primary ion bombardment is investigated. The aim is to obtain a greater understanding of the ionization mechanisms that occur in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The commonly used matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) matrix 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP) and a range of low molecular weight biomolecules were used to investigate whether analyte/matrix suppression effects that have been observed in analogous MALDI experiments were also present in static-SIMS. The outcome of the experiments demonstrates that strong suppression of the quasi-molecular signal of one molecule in a mixture can occur due to the presence of the other, with the gas-phase basicity of the compounds being a good indicator of the secondary ions detected. It is also demonstrated that the suppression of the quasi-molecular ion signal of a compound in a two-component mixture can be minimized by the inclusion of a third compound of suitable gas-phase basicity.

Imaging mass spectrometry

Imaging mass spectrometry combines the chemical specificity and parallel detection of mass spectrometry with microscopic imaging capabilities. The ability to simultaneously obtain images from all analytes detected, from atomic to macromolecular ions, allows the analyst to probe the chemical organization of a sample and to correlate this with physical features. The sensitivity of the ionization step, sample preparation, the spatial resolution, and the speed of the technique are all important parameters that affect the type of information obtained. Recently, significant progress has been made in each of these steps for both secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging of biological samples. Examples demonstrating localization of proteins in tumors, a reduction of lamellar phospholipids in the region binding two single celled organisms, and sub-cellular distributions of several biomolecules have all contributed to an increasing upsurge in interest in imaging mass spectrometry. Here we review many of the instrumental developments and methodological approaches responsible for this increased interest, compare and contrast the information provided by SIMS and MALDI imaging, and discuss future possibilities.

Metal-assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry using atomic (Ga+, In+) and fullerene projectiles

The advantages and drawbacks of using either monatomic or buckminsterfullerene primary ions for metal-assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry (MetA-SIMS) are investigated using a series of organic samples including additive molecules, polyolefins, and small peptides. Gold deposition is mostly performed by sputter-coating, and in some cases, the results are compared to those of thermal evaporation (already used in a previous article: Delcorte, A.; Médard, N.; Bertrand, P. Anal. Chem. 2002, 74, 4955). The microstructure of the gold-covered sample surfaces is assessed by scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The merits of the different sets of experimental conditions are established via the analysis of fragment and parent-like ion yields. For most of the analyzed samples, the highest yields of fragment and parent-like ions are already reached with the sole use of C60+ projectiles. Metallization of the sample does not lead to a significant additional enhancement. For polyethylene and polypropylene, however, gold metallization associated with Ga+/In+ projectiles appears to be the only way to observe large cationized, sample-specific chain segments (m/z approximately 1000-2000). A detailed study of the polypropylene mass spectra as a function of gold coverage shows that the dynamics of yield enhancement by metal nanoparticles is strongly dependent on the choice of the projectile, e.g., a pronounced increase with Ga+ and a slow decay with C60+. The cases of Irganox 1010, a polymer antioxidant, and leucine enkephalin, a small peptide, allow us to investigate the specific influence of the experimental conditions on the emission of parent(like) ions such as M+, (M + Na)+, and (M + Au)+. The results show a dependence on both the type of sample and the considered secondary ion. Using theoretical and experimental arguments, the discussion identifies some of the mechanisms underlying the general trends observed in the results. Guidelines concerning the choice of the experimental conditions for MetA-SIMS are provided.

Higher sensitivity secondary ion mass spectrometry of biological molecules for high resolution, chemically specific imaging

To expand the role of high spatial resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) in biological studies, numerous developments have been reported in recent years for enhancing the molecular ion yield of high mass molecules. These include both surface modification, including matrix-enhanced SIMS and metal-assisted SIMS, and polyatomic primary ions. Using rat brain tissue sections and a bismuth primary ion gun able to produce atomic and polyatomic primary ions, we report here how the sensitivity enhancements provided by these developments are additive. Combined surface modification and polyatomic primary ions provided approximately 15.8 times more signal than using atomic primary ions on the raw sample, whereas surface modification and polyatomic primary ions yield approximately 3.8 and approximately 8.4 times more signal. This higher sensitivity is used to generate chemically specific images of higher mass biomolecules using a single molecular ion peak.

Gold-Enhanced Biomolecular Surface Imaging of Cells and Tissue by SIMS and MALDI Mass Spectrometry

Surface metallization by plasma coating enhances desorption/ionization of membrane components such as lipids and sterols in imaging time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) of tissues and cells. High-resolution images of cholesterol and other membrane components were obtained for neuroblastoma cells and revealed subcellular details (resolving power 1.5 mum). Alternatively, in matrix-enhanced SIMS, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid electrosprayed on neuroblastoma cells allowed intact molecular ion imaging of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin at the cellular level. Gold deposition on top of matrix-coated rat brain tissue sections strongly enhanced image quality and signal intensity in stigmatic matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry. High-quality total ion count images were acquired, and the neuropeptide vasopressin was localized in the rat brain tissue section at the hypothalamic area around the third ventricle. Although the mechanism of signal enhancement by gold deposition is under debate, the results we have obtained for cells and tissue sections illustrate the potential of this sample preparation technique for biomolecular surface imaging by mass spectrometry.

Subcellular imaging mass spectrometry of brain tissue

Imaging mass spectrometry provides both chemical information and the spatial distribution of each analyte detected. Here it is demonstrated how imaging mass spectrometry of tissue at subcellular resolution can be achieved by combining the high spatial resolution of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with the sample preparation protocols of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Despite mechanistic differences and sampling 10(5) times less material, matrix-enhanced (ME)-SIMS of tissue samples yields similar results to MALDI (up to m/z 2500), in agreement with previous studies on standard compounds. In this regard ME-SIMS represents an attractive alternative to polyatomic primary ions for increasing the molecular ion yield. ME-SIMS of whole organs and thin sections of the cerebral ganglia of Lymnaea stagnalis demonstrate the advantages of ME-SIMS for chemical imaging mass spectrometry. Subcellular distributions of cellular analytes are clearly obtained, and the matrix provides an in situ height map of the tissue, allowing the user to identify rapidly regions prone to topographical artifacts and to deconvolute topographical losses in mass resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.

Direct Molecular Imaging ofLymnaea stagnalisNervous Tissue at Subcellular Spatial Resolution by Mass Spectrometry

The imaging capabilities of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and MALDI-MS sample preparation methods were combined. We used this method, named matrix-enhanced (ME) SIMS, for direct molecular imaging of nervous tissue at micrometer spatial resolution. Cryosections of the cerebral ganglia of the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis were placed on indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-coated conductive glass slides and covered with a thin layer of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid by electrospray deposition. High-resolution molecular ion maps of cholesterol and the neuropeptide APGWamide were constructed. APGWamide was predominantly localized in the cluster of neurons that regulate male copulation behavior of Lymnaea. ME-SIMS imaging allows direct molecule-specific imaging from tissue sections without labeling and opens a complementary mass window (<2500 Da) to MALDI imaging mass spectrometry at an order of magnitude higher spatial resolution (<3 microm).

Organic surfaces excited by low-energy ions: atomic collisions, molecular desorption and buckminsterfullerenes

This article reviews the recent progress in the understanding of kiloelectronvolt particle interactions with organic solids, including atomic displacements in a light organic medium, vibrational excitation and desorption of fragments and entire molecules. This new insight is the result of a combination of theoretical and experimental approaches, essentially molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Classical MD simulations provide us with a detailed microscopic view of the processes occurring in the bombarded target, from the collision cascade specifics to the scenarios of molecular emission. Time-of-flight SIMS measures the mass and energy distributions of sputtered ionized fragments and molecular species, a precious source of information concerning their formation, desorption, ionization and delayed unimolecular dissociation in the gas phase. The mechanisms of energy transfer and sputtering are compared for bulk molecular solids, organic overlayers on metal and large molecules embedded in a low-molecular weight matrix. These comparisons help understand some of the beneficial effects of metal substrates and matrices for the analysis of molecules by SIMS. In parallel, I briefly describe the distinct ionization channels of molecules sputtered from organic solids and overlayers. The specific processes induced by polyatomic projectile bombardment, especially fullerenes, are discussed on the basis of new measurements and calculations. Finally, the perspective addresses the state-of-the-art and potential developments in the fields of surface modification and analysis of organic materials by kiloelectronvolt ion beams.

Methods for generating protein molecular ions in ToF-SIMS

One of the greatest challenges in mass spectrometry lies in the generation and detection of molecular ions that can be used to directly identify the protein from the molecular weight of the molecular ion. Typically, proteins are large (MW > 1000), nonvolatile, and/or thermally labile, but the vaporization process produced by many mass spectrometry techniques including time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is inherently limited to generating ions from smaller compounds or fragments of the parent molecule, making the identification of proteins complex. The application of specific molecules to aid in the generation of high molecular weight ions in ToF-SIMS has been recognized for some time. In this study we have developed a matrix-SAM substrate preparation technique based on the self-assembly of a matrix-like molecule, mercaptonicotinic acid (MNA), on gold. We then compare this substrate with two existing ToF-SIMS sample preparation techniques, cationized alkane thiol and matrix-enhanced SIMS (MESIMS). The results of this study illustrate that while there is a range of methods that can be used to improve the molecular ion yield of proteins in ToF-SIMS, their efficacy and reproducibility vary considerably and crucially are linked to the sample preparation and/or protein application methods used. Critically, the MNA modified substrate was able to simultaneously induce molecular ions for each protein present in a multicomponent solution, suggesting that this sample preparation technique may have future application in proteomics and DNA analysis.

Sample Metallization for Performance Improvement in Desorption/Ionization of Kilodalton Molecules: Quantitative Evaluation, Imaging Secondary Ion MS, and Laser Ablation

The metallization procedure, proposed recently for signal improvement in organic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) (Delcorte, A.; Médard, N.; Bertrand, P. Anal.Chem. 2002, 74, 4955)., has been thoroughly tested for a set of kilodalton molecules bearing various functional groups: Irganox 1010, polystyrene, polyalanine, and copper phthalocyanine. In addition to gold, we evaluate the effect of silver evaporation as a sample treatment prior to static SIMS analysis. Ion yields, damage cross sections, and emission efficiencies are compared for Ag- and Au-metallized molecular films, pristine coatings on silicon, and submonolayers of the same molecules adsorbed on silver and gold. The results are sample-dependent but as an example, the yield enhancement calculated for metallized Irganox films with respect to untreated coatings is larger than 2 orders of magnitude for the quasimolecular ion and a factor of 1-10 for characteristic fragments. Insights into the emission processes of quasimolecular ions from metallized surfaces are deduced from kinetic energy distribution measurements. The advantage of the method for imaging SIMS applications is illustrated by the study of a nonuniform coating of polystyrene oligomers on a 100-microm polypropylene film. The evaporated metal eliminates sample charging and allows us to obtain enhanced quality images of characteristic fragment ions as well as reasonably contrasted chemical mappings for cationized PS oligomers and large PP chain segments. Finally, we report on the benefit of using metal evaporation as a sample preparation procedure for laser ablation mass spectrometry. Our results show that the fingerprint spectra of Au-covered polystyrene, polypropylene, and Irganox films can be readily obtained under 337-nm irradiation, a wavelength for which the absorption of polyolefins is low. This is probably because the gold clusters embedded in the sample surface absorb and transfer the photon energy to the surrounding organic medium.

Using Matrix Peaks To Map Topography: Increased Mass Resolution and Enhanced Sensitivity in Chemical Imaging

It is well known in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) that sample topography leads to decreased mass resolution. Specifically, the ion's time of flight is dependent on where it was generated. Here, using matrix-enhanced SIMS, it is demonstrated that, in addition to increasing the yield of intact pseudomolecular ions, the matrix allows the user to semiquantitatively record the topography of a sample. Through mapping the topography-related mass shifts of the matrix (which leads to decreased mass resolution), the analogous mass shifts of higher mass ions can be deconvoluted and higher resolution and greater sensitivity obtained. Furthermore, the semiquantitative topographical map obtained can be compared with any chemical images obtained, allowing the user to quickly ascertain whether local intensity maximums are due to topological features or represent genuine features of interest.

Effect of local matrix crystal variations in matrix-assisted ionization techniques for mass spectrometry

Intense intact molecular ion signals have been obtained from phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidyiinositol using matrix-enhanced secondary ion mass spectrometry (ME-SIMS). It was found that the high-mass (m/z >500) regions of the ME-SIMS spectra closely resembled those obtained using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Using high spatial resolution SIMS, a detailed investigation of dried-droplet samples was performed. Based on the detected Na+ and 2,5-DHB matrix signal intensities, different crystal types were distinguished, in addition to different sizes of crystals. Spatially mapping the pseudomolecular and fragment ions of the phospholipids revealed that the nature of the pseudomolecular ions formed, as well as the ratio of intact molecular to fragment ion, was dependent on the type and surface composition of the crystal. The observed chemical bias effects due to crystal heterogeneity and the resulting variation in desorption/ionization efficiency will complicate the interpretation of data obtained from matrix-assisted mass spectrometric (imaging) techniques and is an important factor in the "hot spot" phenomenon frequently encountered in MALDI experiments. In this respect, imaging SIMS was found to be a versatile tool to investigate the effects of the local physicochemical conditions on the detected molecular species.

Effect of water treatment on analyte and matrix ion yields in matrix-assisted time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry: the case of insulin in and on hydroxycinnamic acid

A systematic study was performed to identify the origin of surprisingly high analyte-to-matrix yield ratios recently observed in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis of oligo- and polypeptides mixed in matrices of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4HCCA). Several sets of samples of porcine insulin in 4HCCA (1:3100 molar) were prepared from liquid solutions by a nebuliser technique, with more than one order of magnitude variation in sprayed material (substrate silicon). Following different periods of storage in air and/or vacuum as well as exposure to high-purity water, TOF-SIMS analysis was performed under oblique impact of 22 keV SF5+. Treatment with water involved either deposition of a droplet covering the whole sample for times between 1 and 20 min or spraying with water in droplet equivalent quantities. The analyte and matrix molecules were detected as protonated molecules (insulin also in doubly protonated form). Even the as-prepared samples usually showed insulin-to-4HCCA yield ratios exceeding the molar ratio of the mixed material. Upon ageing in vacuum the matrix ion yields remained constant but the analyte yields decreased, partly due to break-up of intrachain disulfide bonds. Water treatment resulted in a pronounced decrease in the 4HCCA yield, typically by a factor of five, in parallel with an increase of the insulin yield, by up to a factor of four. Evidence is provided that these changes occur concurrently with a partial dissolution of 4HCCA at the sample surface. The enhanced insulin yield was not correlated with the Na+ yield. The typically 20-fold increase in the insulin-to-4HCCA yield ratio, generated by water exposure of the samples, provides the explanation for the high yield ratios observed previously with water-treated samples. Spraying with water or repeated exposure to water droplets caused a pronounced degradation of the insulin parent yields in combination with an increasing appearance of signals due to the B- and A-chains of insulin. To clarify the issue of surface segregation, a few samples were prepared by spraying acetone-diluted solutions of insulin on previously deposited layers of 4HCCA. Whereas the insulin yields from as-prepared samples were rather low, the yields observed after water treatment were comparable with those observed with samples of insulin in 4HCCA. The results suggest that a large amount of insulin is present at the surface of samples prepared from liquid mixtures of insulin in 4HCCA. With both methods of sample preparation, however, high secondary ion yields of insulin were only obtained after exposure of the samples to water. The chemical changes responsible for this beneficial effect still need to be identified.