The principle of operation and design of the source of liquid drop metal nanocluster ions (NCI) based on the desorption effect of islet-grains from nanodispersed targets under bombardment by multi-charged ions-Cf-252 fission fragments are described. The NO source allows for obtaining nanocluster ion beams with the energy 50 kV*q (q = 1-20e) with the intensity up to similar to 10(5) s(-1). The results of the first experiments on desorption of biomolecules over the range up to 7*10(3) Da under the action of accelerated NO of gold as well as studies of the changes of the NO morphology and the surface itself under bombardment thereof by gold NO are given. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.