Table of Contents
Overview
New York, NY – June 09, 2025 – Global Mass Spectrometry Imaging Market was valued at US$ 4.1 Billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.16% from 2024 to 2034. In 2024, North America led the market, achieving over 37.35% share with a revenue of US$ 1.5 Billion.
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is emerging as a transformative technology in biomedical research, enabling the spatial visualization of molecules within biological tissues. Unlike traditional imaging methods, MSI does not require labeling or staining. It identifies and maps biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, metabolites, and drugs directly from tissue sections with high spatial resolution. This technology offers unique insights into disease mechanisms, drug distribution, and biomarker discovery.
MSI has significant applications in oncology, neurology, pharmacology, and pathology. In cancer research, it helps visualize tumor heterogeneity and monitor treatment response. In neuroscience, MSI maps neuropeptides and lipid alterations in brain tissues, aiding in the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry uses MSI to analyze drug localization and metabolism in tissue samples.
Recent advancements include improved resolution, enhanced ionization techniques, and faster data acquisition, making MSI more accessible for routine clinical and research use. The integration of MSI with artificial intelligence and machine learning is further enhancing data interpretation and diagnostic accuracy.
Public and private investments in precision medicine and tissue-based diagnostics are accelerating the adoption of MSI. Institutions across North America, Europe, and Asia are increasingly deploying this technology in clinical research settings, supporting its role as a key enabler of personalized healthcare and molecular pathology.
Key Takeaways
- The global Mass Spectrometry Imaging Market was valued at USD 4.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 7.4 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.16% during the forecast period.
- The instruments segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2024, contributing approximately 54.39% of the global market.
- Among technologies, the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) segment led the market with a share of 35.13%.
- By application, the proteomics segment dominated the market in 2024, representing 41.16% of the total revenue.
- In terms of end-users, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies were the primary contributors, capturing a market share of 65.15%.
- Regionally, North America held the leading position, accounting for more than 37.35% of the global revenue in 2024.
Segmentation Analysis
- Product Type Analysis: The mass spectrometry imaging market is segmented into instruments, consumables, and services. In 2024, instruments held the largest market share of 54.39%. This dominance is attributed to continuous technological advancements and expanded applications across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and material analysis. Notable innovations in quadrupole and TOF analyzers have significantly enhanced sensitivity and precision. For instance, Agilent’s launch of its 6475 LC/MS and 5977C GC/MSD in June 2022 has helped simplify workflows through integrated instrument intelligence.
- Technology Analysis: The market by technology includes MALDI, SIMS, DESI, TOFMS, Magnetic Sector, and others. In 2024, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) held the leading share at 35.13%. MALDI has become a key ionization technique due to its ability to analyze complex biological and chemical samples efficiently. Its expanding use in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical research has supported market growth. The high throughput and minimal sample preparation needs make MALDI a preferred technology in tissue-based molecular imaging.
- Application Analysis: The application segments include proteomics, metabolomics, glycomics, and others. Proteomics led in 2024 with a 41.16% revenue share. This dominance is driven by the ability of mass spectrometry to quantify protein levels, interactions, and modifications with high accuracy. Advancements in proteomics workflows have deepened insights into cellular functions and disease mechanisms. Its vital role in mapping protein profiles contributes to diagnostic development and supports personalized medicine strategies, making it indispensable in clinical and translational research.
- End-User Analysis: End-users are classified into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, academic & government institutions, and others. In 2024, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms accounted for 65.15% of the market share. These companies adopt MSI for drug discovery, biomarker validation, and treatment monitoring. Meanwhile, government and academic institutions are key adopters due to MSI’s capability to generate spatial molecular insights. The detailed imaging supports disease research, biomarker identification, and cellular studies, making MSI integral to advancing personalized and translational medicine initiatives.
Market Segments
Product Type
- Instruments
- Consumables
- Services
Technology
- Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI)
- Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS)
- Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI)
- Magnetic Sector Mass Spectrometry
- Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS)
- Other Technologies
Application
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
- Glycomics
- Other Applications
End-User
- Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
- Government & Academic Institutions
- Other End-Users
Regional Analysis
North America led the global mass spectrometry imaging market in 2023 and is expected to maintain its dominance through 2033. The region benefits from the presence of major players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Danaher, and Waters Corporation, who invest heavily in R&D. These firms continuously enhance resolution and sensitivity in MSI systems. Notably, in June 2024, SCIEX launched the 7500+ system, offering improved quantitation performance and robustness for analyzing complex biological samples efficiently.
Emerging Trends
- Rapid Growth in Research Output: The number of peer-reviewed articles on MSI rose sharply to 378 publications in 2020–2021, reflecting expanding academic and clinical interest in the field.
- Enhanced Spatial Resolution: Spatial resolution below the single-cell level is now routinely achieved, enabling molecular maps with pixel sizes down to 1–5 µm.
- AI-Driven Dynamic Sampling: Deep learning models have been integrated into MSI workflows. In nano-DESI MSI, a CNN-based dynamic sampling approach yielded a 70% increase in throughput compared to traditional scanning methods.
- Multi-omics Integration: MSI is being coupled with complementary ‘omics’ techniques. Simultaneous spatial mapping of the metabolome, lipidome, and proteome is now feasible, broadening the scope of tissue-level molecular studies.
- High-Throughput Clinical Workflows: Innovative sample preparation methods have been developed to streamline clinical MSI, allowing up to 15 tissue sections to be processed in a single automated run, thus supporting faster diagnostics.
Use Cases
- Tumor Metabolic Profiling: MSI can detect and spatially map 1,000–2,000 metabolites in a single tissue section, enabling detailed analysis of cancer metabolism and microenvironment variations.
- Drug Distribution Studies: Spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites can be visualized at concentrations down to picomolar levels, informing dosage optimization and safety evaluations.
- Biomarker Discovery: MSI supports high-throughput screening of 50–100 patient samples per study, facilitating the identification of protein and lipid biomarkers for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
- Intraoperative Surgical Guidance: Real-time MSI analyses can be completed in under 30 minutes, aiding surgeons with molecular-level tissue characterization during procedures to improve margin assessment.
- Botanical and Agricultural Research: In plant studies, MSI visualizes the distribution of nutrients and secondary metabolites across leaf tissues with spatial resolution of 20 µm, supporting crop science and food quality assessments.
Conclusion
Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is redefining molecular diagnostics and biomedical research through its ability to visualize biomolecules directly within tissue sections. With ongoing advancements in spatial resolution, ionization techniques, and AI-enhanced data analysis, MSI is becoming integral to personalized medicine and translational research.
Its broad applications—from oncology to pharmacology and plant science highlight its versatility and value. As investment in precision healthcare rises globally, MSI is poised for widespread adoption. The technology’s ability to deliver high-resolution, multi-omic insights supports clinical decision-making, disease characterization, and biomarker discovery, establishing it as a pivotal tool in the future of molecular pathology.
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