Bio-TOF-SIMS Custom TOF-SIMS

for high-resolution biological surface imaging

A customised time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry platform for chemical imaging, ion microscopy, and surface analysis of biological specimens.

Key Benefits

Image biological surfaces with high spatial resolution
Analyse the top three to five atomic layers
Analyse hydrated samples with specialist cryo-preparation
Support flexible SIMS and Sputtered Neutral Mass Spectrometry (SNMS) experiments
Enable chemical imaging of single cells, tissues, meteorites, fossils
Customise systems around research requirements

Surface & Depth Analysis

Chemical Identification

High-Resolution Imaging

Wide-Ranging Applications

Custom TOF-SIMS for high-resolution biological surface imaging.

The Bio-TOF-SIMS was one of Kore’s early customised TOF systems, developed through collaboration with Professor Nick Winograd at Pennsylvania State University. The goal was to create a system capable of very high-resolution spatial imaging SIMS on fully hydrated biological specimens.

The ‘Bio-TOF’ instrument combines high-efficiency post-sputtering ionisation, cold-stage capability, cryo-sample preparation, and computer-controlled operation. Its flexible design helps researchers develop advanced biological SIMS methods, including frozen hydrated sample preparation, in vacuo freeze-fracture, 3D molecular imaging, and surface analysis of individual cells.

The Bio-TOF reflects Kore’s collaborative approach to custom instrument development. The first system was developed with Professor Nick Winograd at Pennsylvania State University, where the local instrument-building expertise allowed Penn State to build and commission the system with Kore’s support.

A second system was built at UMIST in the UK, supported by Kore and Penn State, and a third unit was later built to meet demand for instrument time at Penn State. This flexible model allowed specialist research groups to obtain tailored instrumentation while keeping development routes cost-effective.

The platform has also supported later advances in SIMS technology, including freeze-fractured sample preparation, polyatomic sputtering for 3D molecular imaging, laser post-ionisation, high-mass detection, and the use of novel primary ion beams such as Au_n and C₆₀.

One of Kore’s long-term clients of the Bio-TOF is the Surface Analysis Research Centre at the University of Manchester (previously UMIST), UK. The world-renowned group, established by Professor John Vickerman and currently led by Professor Nick Lockyer, has used Kore-derived instrumentation as the ideal platform to test and develop advances in SIMS technology. The beautiful images on this webpage were kindly contributed by this group, demonstrating their impressive range of research over many years.

Professor Lockyer says: “For 30 years, the Bio-TOF SIMS instrument has been a workhorse for demonstrating a range of advances, such as freeze-fractured sample preparation, polyatomic sputtering for 3D molecular imaging, laser post-ionisation and high-mass detection. Analytes have ranged from isotopic elements to metabolites and other biological molecules up to several hundred mass units. Among our group’s most significant outputs were the first 3D molecular SIMS image of a single biological cell, and the first molecular TOF-SIMS characterisation of cancer cells. The instrument has showcased the advantages of novel primary ion beams (Aun, and C60), contributing to significant upgrades in SIMS performance in industry and academia.”