What is MALDI?

MALDI, which stands for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization, is an ionization technique used in mass spectrometry. A matrix is used to create co-crystals with the target molecule. A laser is then used to desorb and ionize the sample, creating ions that can be analyzed by a mass spectrometer to determine the mass-to-charge ratio of the sample's components. MALDI is commonly used for analyzing large biomolecules, such as proteins, peptides, and polymers, but can be used for analyzing small molecules as well.