Review about Powerful Combinations of Advanced and Hyphenated Sample Introduction Techniques with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Elucidating Trace Element Species in Pathologic Conditions on a Molecular Level

Abstract

Element analysis in clinical or biological samples is important due to the essential role in clinical diagnostics, drug development, and drug-effect monitoring. Particularly, the specific forms of element binding, actual redox state, or their spatial distribution in tissue or in single cells are of interest in medical research. This review summarized exciting combinations of sophisticated sample delivery systems hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), enabling a broadening of information beyond the well-established outstanding detection capability. Deeper insights into pathological disease processes or intracellular distribution of active substances were provided, enabling a better understanding of biological processes and their dynamics. Examples were presented from spatial elemental mapping in tissue, cells, or spheroids, also considering elemental tagging. The use of natural or artificial tags for drug monitoring was shown. In the context of oxidative stress and ferroptosis iron, redox speciation gained importance. Quantification methods for Fe2+, Fe3+, and ferritin-bound iron were introduced. In Wilson’s disease, free and exchangeable copper play decisive roles; the respective paragraph provided information about hyphenated Cu speciation techniques, which provide their fast and reliable quantification. Finally, single cell ICP-MS provides highly valuable information on cell-to-cell variance, insights into uptake of metal-containing drugs, and their accumulation and release on the single-cell level.

Fe3O4 SPIONs in cancer theranostics—structure versus interactions with proteins and methods of their investigation

“…A potential response to the above demand may be hyphenated techniques. The binding between SPOINs and human serum proteins may be characterized by the application of high-performance techniques for species separation, such as capillary electrophoresis (CE) or HPLC coupled with sensitive modules for their identification and determination [121,122].…”

Evaluation of Lead Ion in the Wastewater of the Lifting and Treatment Stations Using ICP-MS and CPE Methods

“…ICP-MS technology currently allows for the simultaneous identification of several trace elements [30]. In tests ranging from 1 ng/L to high mg/L ranges, ICP-MS was shown to be more accurate than other methods at detecting components of biological or clinical origin at the lowest concentrations with good linearity and exceptional sensitivity [31].…”

Role of selenium in type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and insulin secretion

“…In addition, the relationship between Se with T2DM via the inflammatory pathway has been described through SELENOS, a transmembrane protein located in the membrane of the ER and the plasma membrane. Its increase has been related, among other things, to a decrease in glucose uptake and glycogen biosynthesis as well as to an increase in circulating cytokines[ 55 ].…”