Interfacial assembly of functional mesoporous nanomatrices for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

Functionalized mesoporous nanomaterials have been widely applied in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) due to their diverse structural features and unique properties including high surface areas, large pore volumes, tunable pore sizes, modifiable surface properties, and controllable wall compositions. Precisely controlling the functional groups, structures, morphologies, and component levels in the assemblies of mesoporous nanomaterials is key to realize high-performance MALDI-MS. To date, various functional units/materials have been rationally introduced into mesoporous structures. The resulting heterostructures can maintain the excellent structural features of mesoporous nanomaterials while simultaneously exhibiting new optical properties and demonstrateing improved selectivities, design flexibilities, and multifunctionalities. During the last few years, considerable progress has been made in the fabrication of mesoporous nanomaterials for applications in the sample pretreatment and molecule desorption/ionization steps of MALDI-MS. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the fabrication strategies, properties, and MALDI-MS mechanisms of optical heterostructures based on mesoporous nanomaterials. The significant applications of mesoporous nanomaterials, for example, as matrices in sample preparation and as assisted matrices, in MALDI-MS are extensively highlighted. Finally, the prospective and considerable potentials of mesoporous nanomaterials for application in MALDI-MS are proposed. We hope that this review will provide further insights into functionalized mesoporous nanomaterials design and their broader applications in MALDI-MS.