Simultaneous Determination of Size and Position of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles in Onion Cells using Laser Ablation-ICP-MS

Abstract

Size distribution and mapping analyses of Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) have been made using an ICP-MS combined with laser ablation sampling technique (LA-ICP-MS). With the femtosecond laser (Ti:S laser) ablation system, the measured size distribution was modified to be smaller, whereas this disintegration could be reduced when the nanosecond laser (ArF Excimer laser) ablation was employed. This suggests that both the size and position of the NPs can be defined by the nanosecond LA-ICP-MS technique. More importantly, based on the peak-height analyses (PHA) of the measured signal intensity profiles, the present form of the analytes, whether particulate or ionic form, could be defined. This is very important to investigate the transport of the NPs within biological samples. To demonstrate the unique feature of the technique, imaging analyses of Ag and Au NPs, together with distribution analysis of the ionic form, were conducted on onion cells, prepared through dosing experiments of the Ag and Au NPs. There were clear differences in both the increasing rates of the numbers of NPs and the concentration range of the ionic form between the Ag and Au. The data obtained here demonstrate clearly that the LA-ICP-MS technique can become a major analytical tool to obtain both the size distribution and position of NPs from tissue samples.

Analytical Capability of High-Time Resolution-Multiple Collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry for the Elemental and Isotopic Analysis of Metal Nanoparticles

“…The resulting time resolution is sufficiently rapid to permit the rapid changes in the signal intensities for the transient signals obtained from the NPs to be followed. 31 The dead time of the ion counters were measured separately by monitoring the isotope ratios obtained by a combination of high-gain ion detectors and Faraday detectors. Details of procedures for the calibration of dead time have been reported in our previous paper.…”

Quantitative Elemental Analysis of a Single Cell by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry in Fast Time‐Resolved Analysis Mode

“…[13] SC-ICP-MS has also been used to detect inorganic nanoparticles or quantum dots in biological tissue and cells. [14][15][16][17] On the basis of elemental data (i. e., signal intensity and number of signals), metabolism or the transportation mechanism of nano-sized materials can be evaluated. Therefore, an elemental analysis technique of single cells would be useful to study both the physiological and nutritional importance and toxicological effects of elements within a nano-sized sample.…”

“…The toxic effects of arsenic were evaluated using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii [12] and A549 cells [13] . SC‐ICP‐MS has also been used to detect inorganic nanoparticles or quantum dots in biological tissue and cells [14–17] . On the basis of elemental data (i. e., signal intensity and number of signals), metabolism or the transportation mechanism of nano‐sized materials can be evaluated.…”

Single-Cell Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Multiple Drugs and Nanomaterials at Organelle Level

“…As an essential tool for element determination, ICP-MS has a wide range of applications in life science. − The advantages of high sensitivity, high throughput and quantitative capability make it a reliable elemental analysis technique . Combined with a laser ablation (LA) system, ICP-MS has the capability of in situ detection and imaging. , However, due to the limitation of the laser spot size, the spatial resolution of traditional LA-ICP-MS is usually a few to dozens of micrometers, which is insufficient for high-resolution imaging of biological samples. , Recently, several groups have made great progresses to improve the image resolution of LA-ICP-MS.…”