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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
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Arraying of Single Cells for Quantitative High Throughput Laser Ablation ICP-TOF-MS
Konrad Löhr1,2, Olga Borovinskaya3, Guilhem Tourniaire4
1Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) , Richard-Willstätter-Str. 11 , 12489 Berlin , Germany.
Analytical Chemistry
|August 6, 2019
Summary
A new method uses a piezo-acoustic microarrayer for precise single-cell arraying, enabling high-throughput isotopic fingerprinting and quantitative analysis of metal-containing dyes using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOF-MS). This advances bioanalytical capabilities for individual cell studies.
Area of Science:
- Bioanalytical Chemistry
- Mass Spectrometry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Arraying single cells for mass spectrometry presents significant bioanalytical challenges.
- Accurate analysis of individual cells requires advanced sample preparation techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel single-cell arraying technology for quantitative analysis and isotopic fingerprinting.
- To enable high-throughput analysis of individual cells using mass spectrometry.
Main Methods:
- A piezo-acoustic microarrayer with automated optical cell detection was utilized for single-cell arraying.
- Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-TOF-MS) was employed for analysis.
- Optimized parameters achieved high single-cell occupancy (>99%) and recovery (>66%).
Main Results:
- The developed arraying technology demonstrated high throughput (up to 550 cells/hour).
- LA-ICP-TOF-MS successfully detected naturally occurring isotopes for isotopic fingerprinting of individual cells.
- Quantitative determination of metal-containing cell dyes was achieved down to approximately 100 attograms (ag).
Conclusions:
- The novel single-cell arraying technology coupled with LA-ICP-TOF-MS offers a powerful platform for single-cell bioanalysis.
- This method facilitates both isotopic fingerprinting and precise quantification of cellular components.
- The approach significantly advances the field of single-cell mass spectrometry.
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