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Updated: Dec 15, 2025

In Situ Detection and Single Cell Quantification of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Using Nuclear Microprobe Analysis
Published on: February 3, 2018
Quantitative Elemental Analysis of a Single Cell by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry in Fast
Yu-Ki Tanaka1, Risako Iida1, Shohei Takada1
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo, Chiba, 260-8675, Japan.
Abstract:
The elemental composition of a single yeast, green alga, or red blood cell (RBC) was precisely determined by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) operating in fast time-resolved analysis (TRA) mode. The technique is known as single-cell (SC)-ICP-MS. Phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, zinc, and iron were detected in the three types of cell. The elemental composition of yeast and green alga obtained by SC-ICP-MS was consistent with results obtained from conventional ICP-MS measurements following acid digestion of the cells. Slight differences were found in the measured values between SC-ICP-MS and the conventional ICP-MS results for RBC. However, the SC-ICP-MS results for S and Fe in RBC were closer to the estimated values for these elements that were calculated from the level of hemoglobin in RBCs. The data suggest that SC-ICP-MS is suitable for the analysis of various cell types, namely, fungus, plant, and animal cells.
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