Quantitative Imaging of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles in Single Eukaryotic Cells by Laser Ablation ICP-MS

Abstract

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was utilized for spatially resolved bioimaging of the distribution of silver and gold nanoparticles in individual fibroblast cells upon different incubation experiments. High spatial resolution was achieved by optimization of scan speed, ablation frequency, and laser energy. Nanoparticles are visualized with respect to cellular substructures and are found to accumulate in the perinuclear region with increasing incubation time. On the basis of matrix-matched calibration, we developed a method for quantification of the number of metal nanoparticles at the single-cell level. The results provide insight into nanoparticle/cell interactions and have implications for the development of analytical methods in tissue diagnostics and therapeutics.

Development of a fast laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry cell for sub-μm scanning of layered materials

“…This shortcoming can be compensated for by operating at low sampling rates, effectively separating the pulse responses within one or more sequences of pulses, 9 or by operating at high sampling rates and low scanning speeds, thereby mixing the dispersion of multiple overlapping signal peaks over a short scanning range. 10 Both options lead to a decreased sample throughput and thus, increased costs. Efforts within the laser ablation community have been directed to the development of ablation cell types [11][12][13][14][15][16] permitting the impact of dispersion processes to be reduced, as these affect both sensitivity and spatial resolution in a detrimental way.…”

“…Owing to the improved sensitivity, this cell permits imaging at the mm-level. Nevertheless, numerous analytical applications would still benet from higher lateral resolutions, as nuclide distributions at the nm-level within mm-sized features could reveal essential information on trace element patterns in geological samples, 17,18 biomarker distributions on subcellular levels 10 and surface layer phenomena in solid samples.…”

High-Speed, Integrated Ablation Cell and Dual Concentric Injector Plasma Torch for Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

“…Two important fields in which Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is experiencing growing demand are those of imaging/mapping, notably of biological targets [1][2][3][4][5][6] and the analysis of discrete smallvolume samples such as single cells [7][8][9][10][11] or nanoparticulate [12][13][14] . For example this technique has been used to investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of disease states arising from imbalances in metal homeostasis.…”

Single Cell Tracking of Gadolinium Labeled CD4+ T Cells by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

“…25 Recently, the technique has been applied to image the distribution of iodine, silver and gold in single fibroblast cells, following labelling in vitro with KI 3 and gold and silver nanoparticles respectively. 26,27 Studies have also reported the detection of gadolinium-based contrast agents in tumour and tissue samples. [28][29][30] Two of these investigations involved a direct comparison between LA-ICP-MS and MRI, and demonstrated the enhanced sensitivity and spatial resolution achievable when using LA-ICP-MS. 29,30 Although LA-ICP-MS clearly has remarkable sensitivity, application of this technique to cellular therapy depends upon cell labelling techniques that are likely to be approved for clinical use.…”