Analysis of Metal Elements in Culture Medium Using ICPMS-2050

Significance of the Topic

The accurate determination of both trace and major elements in cell culture media is essential for reproducible bioprocesses, ensuring cell health, enzyme function, and product consistency. Variations in raw materials or equipment can introduce metal contamination that impacts cell behavior, making robust analytical methods vital for quality control in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.

Study Objectives and Overview

This study evaluates the performance of the ICPMS-2050 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for multi-element analysis in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and a high-matrix variant with added protein. Goals include demonstrating reliable quantification across element concentrations spanning sub-ppb to thousands of ppm, assessing dilution-only sample preparation, verifying spike recoveries, and confirming long-term analytical stability.

Used Instrumentation

• ICPMS-2050 with Mini-Torch plasma source to reduce argon consumption
• Cyclone nebulizer chamber and Nebulizer DC04
• Nickel skimmer and sampling cones
• Auto-sampler AS-20 with online internal standard addition kit

Methodology

Samples of DMEM and protein-spiked medium were diluted 20-fold in mixed acid (1 % HNO₃, 0.5 % HCl). Calibration standards spanned from 0 to 300 mg/L for major elements and 0 to 10 µg/L for trace elements. Internal standards (Be, Ga, Sc, Rh, Tl) were added online at defined concentrations. Analyses employed helium or hydrogen collision/reaction gases to minimize interferences. Operating parameters included 1.2 kW RF power, 9 L/min plasma gas, and routine sampling depth and flow rates.

Main Results and Discussion

• Detection limits ranged from sub-ppb for trace elements to sub-µg/L for majors after dilution.
• Spike recoveries for all elements fell within 94–107 %, confirming method accuracy with simple dilution.
• Long-term stability over an 8-hour run showed calibration verification recoveries between 90–110 % and internal standard recoveries within 70–130 %, indicating reliable performance without drift.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Simultaneous quantification of a broad concentration range of elements in culture media using minimal sample prep.
• Reduced operational cost through low-argon consumption torch and online standard addition.
• Applicability for routine QC of bioprocess media and monitoring of raw material consistency.

Future Trends and Applications

Advancements may include integration with automation for high-throughput screening of media components, coupling with speciation techniques to assess metal bioavailability, and expanding to single-cell ICP-MS for intracellular metal profiling. Emerging collision/reaction cell chemistries will further lower interferences, enhancing trace-level detection in complex matrices.

Conclusion

The ICPMS-2050, combined with simple dilution-only sample preparation, reliably quantifies trace and high-concentration elements in culture media with excellent accuracy and long-term stability. This robust approach supports stringent quality control in cell culture applications.

References

1. Ryan J. Graham et al., “Consequences of trace metal variability and supplementation on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture performance: A review of key mechanism and considerations,” Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2019.