Single-Cell Sample Introduction System for ICP-MS

Single-cell analysis using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (SC-ICP-MS) is enhancing the fundamental understanding in cellular biology, oncology and drug discovery. SC-ICP-MS provides for the quantification of metals in individual biological cells and is used as a research tool to allow scientists to study disease aetiology, better understand diseased cell states and develop new drug treatments to give better patient outcomes.

In single-cell analysis, the sample introduction system converts a continuous stream of biological cells efficiently into an aerosol of individual cells and transfers the aerosol into the Inductively Coupled Plasma of the ICP-MS for analysis. A critical aspect of the sample introduction system is the cells must remain intact and unruptured during the nebulization process to ensure each individual cell produces a single ion burst inside the plasma that can be transferred into the mass analyser of the ICP-MS for quantification.

Conventional ICP-MS spray chambers have low transport efficiencies (typically < 5% TE) that filter out larger droplets ( > 5µm) from the nebulizer aerosol. As most cell lines of interest are larger than 5µm, the secondary filtering mechanism of conventional spray chamber designs rejects a high proportion of the cells from passing to the plasma. To overcome this significant deficiency the Glass Expansion spray chamber design for single cell analysis is different from conventional ICP-MS spray chambers.

Glass Expansion have developed a Single-Cell Sample Introduction System (SC-SIS) for SC-ICP-MS which consists of a:

High efficiency, low uptake, concentric glass nebulizer designed to efficiently nebulize single-cell suspensions without compromising cell integrity
Low volume, on-axis, laminar-flow spray chamber directly coupled to the ICP for the highest transport efficiency of the nebulized single-cell suspension
Patent pending MicroJet gas adapter which entrains and shapes the aerosol plume to reduce cell deposition onto the spray chamber walls and increase sample transport efficiency

Ordering Information

Part Number ICP-MS SC-SIS Kits

KT-1155 Single-Cell Sample Introduction System for Agilent ® ICP-MS

KT-1172 Single Cell Sample Introduction System for Thermo ® ICP-MS

KT-1172 Single Cell Sample Introduction System for TOFWERK icpTOF

KT-1184 Single Cell Sample Introduction System for PerkinElmer ® NexION 1000/2000

Part Number	ICP-MS SC-SIS Kits
KT-1155	Single-Cell Sample Introduction System for Agilent ® ICP-MS
KT-1172	Single Cell Sample Introduction System for Thermo ® ICP-MS
KT-1172	Single Cell Sample Introduction System for TOFWERK icpTOF
KT-1184	Single Cell Sample Introduction System for PerkinElmer ® NexION 1000/2000

Single-cell Literature

Single-Cell Sample Introduction System for ICP-MS Flyer

High Efficiency Nebulizer for Single Cell TOF-ICP-MS Presentation Poster

Towards Automated Routine Analysis of the Distribution of Trace Elements in Single Cells using ICP-MS