Multielement trace-element speciation in metal-biomolecules by chromatography coupled with ICP–MS

Abstract

The state-of-the-art of multi-element speciation in biological materials by hybrid techniques with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) detection is critically reviewed with special attention to multi-metal speciation in metallothioneins (MT) and metallothionein-like proteins (MLP). The most common separation techniques used for the purpose include conventional size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) (with off-line detection) and anion-exchange (AE) or reversed-phase (RP) HPLC coupled on-line to ICP-MS. Advantages and limitations of the different commercial element-selective ICP-MS detectors, including the quadrupole (Q), double focusing (DF), and time-of-flight (TOF) mass analysers, are discussed. Procedures reported for speciation analysis, by use of hybrid techniques, for multi-metal speciation in mussel MLP and rabbit liver MT are illustrated with special emphasis on work performed in the authors' laboratory.

Characterization of the cytosolic distribution of priority pollutant metals and metalloids in the digestive gland cytosol of marine mussels: Seasonal and spatial variability

“…In the current study these three metals showed strong elution in the MMW range marked as peak 3 area which might correspond to MT protein based on calibration of column and the used standards. Strong elution in this range was in line with the earlier findings of Ferrarello et al (2002) who reported almost all Cu and Cd, and significant part of Zn eluted within the elution window of MT standards in SE-HPLC separated cytosol of mussels. However, in our study significant part of Cu and Cd (approximately 20%) and approximately half of Zn eluted with biomolecules of HMW and not specifically in the MT range.…”

Sample introduction systems for the analysis of liquid microsamples by ICP-AES and ICP-MS

“…in some fields (i.e., forensic [3], biological [4], clinical analysis, etc.) the sample volume available can be lower than 1 ml; 2. the optimization of new coupling techniques, such as Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) [5] or other chromatographies coupled to ICP-AES (or ICP-MS), involves the use of a low sample consumption system;.…”

Trace Elements

“…A column filled with a chelating resin followed by a rinse of matrix elements from the resin and elution of the metals allows one-step concentration and simplification of the matrix (Beck et al ., 2002;Evans et al ., 2005). Pre-concentration and elution can either be made 'off-line' with subsequent analysis of the collected eluate (Ferrarello et al ., 2002) or 'on-line' as part of the (ICP-MS) workflow (Beck et al ., 2002). Using the on-line method gives an elution profile (concentrations versus time) of the metals and the average peak or integrated intensity or the maximum peak intensity is used as being proportional to the sample metal concentration.…”