title: Mass spectrometry imaging reveals the sub-organ distribution of carbon nanomaterials.
abstract: Label and label-free methods to image carbon-based nanomaterials exist. However, label-based approaches are limited by the risk of tag detachment over time, and label-free spectroscopic methods have slow imaging speeds, weak photoluminescence signals and strong backgrounds. Here, we present a label-free mass spectrometry imaging method to detect carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and carbon nanodots in mice. The large molecular weights of nanoparticles are difficult to detect using conventional mass spectrometers, but our method overcomes this problem by using the intrinsic carbon cluster fingerprint signal of the nanomaterials. We mapped and quantified the sub-organ distribution of the nanomaterials in mice. Our results showed that most carbon nanotubes and nanodots were found in the outer parenchyma of the kidney, and all three materials were seen in the red pulp of the spleen. The highest concentrations of nanotubes in the spleen were found within the marginal zone.
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Suming
authors: S
authors: Chen
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Caiqiao
authors: C
authors: Xiong
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Huihui
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Qiongqiong
authors: Q
authors: Wan
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Hou
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: He
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
authors: Abraham
authors: A
authors: Badu-Tawiah
authors: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors: Zongxiu
authors: Z
authors: Nie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006108:Graphite / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D006108:Graphite