PhD defence Laura van der Vloet

Keywords:  Mass spectrometry imaging, Multi-omics, Therapeuticals, Tandem mass spectrometry liquid chromatography

"Spatial multi-omics analysis for therapeutical innovations"

This thesis describes how modern technologies help improve our understanding of diseases and therapeutic candidates. A single research method is often not enough to explain the complex biological processes occurring in the human body. Therefore, different types of biological data are combined, such as genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolics. This is known as a “multi-omics” approach.

This thesis mainly investigated how drugs are distributed throughout biological tissues and what their impact on biological pathways. For this purpose, a technique called matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was used, which enables molecules to be visualized directly within tissue samples. The studies focused, among other things, on antisense oligonucleotides, a novel type of drug candidate that can influence specific genes.

In addition, the research investigated how diseases such as hepatitis B and various treatments affect lipids in cells and organs. The effect of light therapy on lipids that are present in skin cells was also studied. The results demonstrate that MALDI-MSI can support the development of safer and more effective medicines for a wide range of applications.

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