Sample support

#The present disclosure relates to a sample support body.

#As a method of ionizing a sample such as a biological sample for performing mass spectrometry or the like, there are known a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) method, a surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) method, a desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) method, and the like. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization method is a method of ionizing a sample by adding an organic compound having a low molecular weight called a matrix that absorbs a laser beam to the sample and irradiating the sample with the laser beam. The surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization method is a method of ionizing a sample by dropping the sample on an ionization substrate having a fine uneven structure on the surface and irradiating the sample with a laser beam. The desorption electrospray ionization method is a method of desorbing and ionizing a sample by irradiating the sample with charged-droplets.

#Further, as a sample support body capable of ionizing components of a sample while maintaining position information (two-dimensional distribution information of molecules constituting the sample) of the components of the sample, there is known a sample support body including a substrate having a first surface, a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through-holes opening on each of the first surface and the second surface (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1). In such a sample support body, when the second surface of the substrate is allowed to be in contact with the sample, the components of the sample move from the second surface side to the first surface side via the plurality of through-holes and stay on the first surface side in the substrate.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sample support body of one embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sample support body along line II-II illustrated in FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a magnified image of a substrate of the sample support body illustrated in FIG. 1.

#Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is noted that that the same or equivalent portions are denoted by the same reference signs in each of the drawings, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted.

#[Sample Support Body]

#As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sample support body 1 includes a substrate 2, a frame 3, and an adhesive layer 4. The substrate 2 has a first surface 2a, a second surface 2b, and a plurality of through-holes 2c. The second surface 2b is a surface on the side opposite to the first surface 2a. Each through-hole 2c opens on each of the first surface 2a and the second surface 2b. In the present embodiment, the plurality of through-holes 2c are formed uniformly (in a uniform distribution) over the entire substrate 2, and each through-hole 2c extends along a thickness direction (direction where the first surface 2a and the second surface 2b face each other) of the substrate 2.