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Imaging Metals in Brain Tissue by Laser Ablation - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
Published on: January 22, 2017
Quantitative imaging of metals in tissues
Martina Ralle1, Svetlana Lutsenko
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. rallem@ohsu.edu
Summary
Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescent microscopy (SXRF) precisely maps trace elements in cells. This advanced imaging technique reveals metal concentrations and speciation crucial for understanding health and disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical imaging
- Cellular biology
- Trace element analysis
Background:
- Trace elements are vital for physiological processes in all biological systems.
- Understanding metal concentrations, distribution, and speciation in cells is key to exploring the metallome in health and disease.
- Current methods lack the resolution and sensitivity for detailed intracellular metal analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the capabilities of Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescent microscopy (SXRF) for quantitative trace element analysis in biological samples.
- To demonstrate how SXRF can provide high-resolution, element-specific data on metal concentrations and speciation within cells and cellular compartments.
- To showcase the potential of SXRF in advancing research on the metallome in both healthy and diseased states.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescent microscopy (SXRF) for its element-specific and quantitative capabilities.
- Employing advanced sample preparation techniques to enable submicron resolution imaging of metals in mammalian tissues.
- Integrating SXRF with correlative methods to determine elemental amount, oxidation state, and spatial distribution.
Main Results:
- Achieved submicron resolution imaging of metals in mammalian tissue.
- Demonstrated the ability to quantitatively measure trace elements with high sensitivity.
- Enabled the determination of trace element amount and oxidation state within intracellular compartments.
Conclusions:
- SXRF is an ideal tool for high-resolution, quantitative analysis of trace elements in biological systems.
- Advances in SXRF and sample preparation allow for detailed investigation of the cellular metallome.
- This technique can identify cell-specific metal ion changes relevant to development and disease progression.
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