In the last decades, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) has attracted increasing interest due to its unique capabilities, achievable through the nanostructured substrates used to promote the analyte desorption/ionization. While the most widely recognized asset of SALDI-MS is the untargeted analysis of small molecules, this technique also offers the possibility of targeted approaches. In particular, the implementation of SALDI-MS imaging (SALDI-MSI), which is the focus of this review, opens up new opportunities. After a brief discussion of the nomenclature and the fundamental mechanisms associated with this technique, which are still highly controversial, the analytical strategies to perform SALDI-MSI are extensively discussed. Emphasis is placed on the sample preparation but also on the selection of the nanosubstrate (in terms of chemical composition and morphology) as well as its functionalization possibilities for the selective analysis of specific compounds in targeted approaches. Subsequently, some selected applications of SALDI-MSI in various fields (i.e., biomedical, biological, environmental, and forensic) are presented. The strengths and the remaining limitations of SALDI-MSI are finally summarized in the conclusion and some perspectives of this technique, which has a bright future, are proposed in this section.

中文翻译：

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表面辅助激光解吸/电离质谱成像：综述

在过去的几十年中，表面辅助激光解吸/电离质谱 (SALDI-MS) 由于其独特的功能而引起了越来越多的兴趣，可通过用于促进分析物解吸/电离的纳米结构基底来实现。虽然 SALDI-MS 最广泛认可的资产是小分子的非靶向分析，但该技术也提供了靶向方法的可能性。特别是，作为本次审查重点的 SALDI-MS 成像 (SALDI-MSI) 的实施开辟了新的机遇。在对术语和与该技术相关的基本机制进行了简短讨论后，仍然存在很大争议，然后对执行 SALDI-MSI 的分析策略进行了广泛讨论。重点放在样品制备上，也放在纳米基材的选择上（在化学成分和形态方面）以及其功能化的可能性，以便在目标方法中选择性地分析特定化合物。随后，介绍了 SALDI-MSI 在各个领域（即生物医学、生物、环境和法医）中的一些选定应用。最后总结了 SALDI-MSI 的优势和剩余的局限性，并在本节中提出了该技术的一些观点，该技术具有光明的未来。、生物医学、生物、环境和法医）。最后总结了 SALDI-MSI 的优势和剩余的局限性，并在本节中提出了该技术的一些观点，该技术具有光明的未来。、生物医学、生物、环境和法医）。最后总结了 SALDI-MSI 的优势和剩余的局限性，并在本节中提出了该技术的一些观点，该技术具有光明的未来。