Mass spectrometry imaging in Poland: from fingerprints to cancer

This review summarises recent advances in mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) technologies developed and applied in Poland across forensic, biomedical, plant, and microbial research. In forensic science, techniques such as TOF-SIMS and LDI-MSI with nanoparticle-enhanced targets (AuNPET) have enabled high-resolution chemical mapping of drug residues and toxic compounds on fingerprints, enhancing trace evidence analysis. In biomedical studies, MSI approaches have been utilised for spatial profiling of lipids and metabolites in animal tissues, revealing molecular changes associated with health and disease. Plant research has benefitted from nanoparticle-assisted MSI and laser ablation-based methods (LARESI, LARAPPI/CI-MSI), facilitating detailed mapping of bioactive compounds across diverse species and advancing spatial metabolomics with minimal sample preparation. In oncology, MSI platforms combining MALDI, LDI, and nanoparticle-enhanced targets have characterised tumour heterogeneity and identified biomarkers in various cancers, supporting diagnostics and personalised medicine. Additionally, MSI has been applied to visualise microbial metabolites, offering new insights into plant-pathogen interactions and biocontrol mechanisms. Collectively, these developments demonstrate the broad applicability and growing importance of MSI in elucidating biochemical complexity within biological and clinical contexts in Poland.