title: Quantitative analysis of gold nanoparticles in single cells by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.
abstract: Single cell analysis has become an important field of research in recent years reflecting the heterogeneity of cellular responses in biological systems. Here, we demonstrate a new method, based on laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS), which can quantify in situ gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in single cells. Dried residues of picoliter droplets ejected by a commercial inkjet printer were used to simulate matrix-matched calibration standards. The gold mass in single cells exposed to 100 nM NIST Au NPs (Reference material 8012, 30 nm) for 4 h showed a log-normal distribution, ranging from 1.7 to 72 fg Au per cell, which approximately corresponds to 9 to 370 Au NPs per cell. The average result from 70 single cells (15 ± 13 fg Au per cell) was in good agreement with the result from an aqua regia digest solution of 1.2 × 10(6) cells (18 ± 1 fg Au per cell). The limit of quantification was 1.7 fg Au. This paper demonstrates the great potential of LA-ICPMS for single cell analysis and the beneficial study of biological responses to metal drugs or NPs at the single cell level.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Nuclear Radiation and Nuclear Energy Technology/Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ling-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Han-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhi-Fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Barry L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Wei-Yue
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D053685:Laser Therapy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D006046:Gold