Living in a transient world: ICP-MS reinvented via time-resolved analysis for monitoring single events. Issue 16 (23rd March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Resano, M.; Aramendía, M.; García-Ruiz, E.; Bazo, A.; Bolea-Fernandez, E.; Vanhaecke, F.
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 13:Issue 16(2022)
• Page Start: 4436
• Page End: 4473
• Publication Date: 2022-03-23
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d1sc05452j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : This work presents the basic concepts behind single event-ICP-MS, highlighting key areas of application (single particle-ICP-MS or single cell-ICP-MS) as well as of future development (micro/nanoplastics). Abstract : After 40 years of development, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) can hardly be considered as a novel technique anymore. ICP-MS has become the reference when it comes to multi-element bulk analysis at (ultra)trace levels, as well as to isotope ratio determination for metal(loid)s. However, over the last decade, this technique has managed to uncover an entirely new application field, providing information in a variety of contexts related to the individual analysis of single entities ( e.g., nanoparticles, cells, or micro/nanoplastics), thus addressing new societal challenges. And this profound expansion of its application range becomes even more remarkable when considering that it has been made possible in an a priori simple way: by providing faster data acquisition and developing the corresponding theoretical substrate to relate the time-resolved signals thus obtained with the elemental composition of the target entities. This review presents the underlying concepts behind single event-ICP-MS, which are needed to fully understand its potential, highlighting key areas of application ( e.g., single particle-ICP-MS or single cell-ICP-MS) as well as of future development ( e.g., micro/nanoplastics).