Exploring Metal Distribution in Human Liver: Quantitative Bioimaging using Laser Ablation-ICP-MS and Organic Matrix-Based Standards
Bioimaging is essential for visualizing tissues, cells, and compounds, while metallomics studies highlight the roles of metals in biological systems by visualizing the distribution of metals in tissues. Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) can provide localization information of elements on solid samples.
Therefore, bioimaging techniques using LA-ICP-MS have been developed to investigate the distribution of metals on thin sections.
Quantifying metals with LA-ICP-MS involves three methods:
- using inorganic matrix-based standards
- using element-spiked tissue samples
- normalizing to bulk metal components as 100%.
For the first method, commercially available solid reference materials are unsuitable due to discrepancies in ablation efficiency and matrix effects of the sample aerosol when compared to carbon-based biological tissues. The second method requires advanced skills and is time-consuming. And the challenge of the third method is scanning all elements within a single ablated spot. An organic matrix-based standard has emerged as a promising solution. The aim of the study is to directly quantify metals such as Mg, P, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Mo in human liver specimens using LA-ICP-MS, a highly sensitive technique. The elemental concentrations were determined from external calibration curves generated using an organic matrix-based standard.
By attending this presentation, you will:
- Gain a foundational understanding of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and explore how this technique elucidates the spatial distribution of metals within biological samples.
- Observe quantitative data derived from LA-ICP-MS results, and the distinct variations in metal distributions between the two specimens.
For Research Use Only. Not For Use In Diagnostic Procedures.
Who should attend?
- Researchers, scientists, and pathologists wishing to learn about bioimaging using LA-ICP-MS, and how to quantify metals in thin sections.
Presenter: Tetsuo Kubota (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies Inc., Japan)
Tetsuo Kubota has established a career as an application scientist of ICP-MS. At Agilent Technologies, Tetsuo is responsible for developing applications in the environmental, semi-conductor, and life sciences market using ICP-MS and has created many application notes and technical overviews. Additionally, Tetsuo has led many collaboration research programs with academia to develop life science applications such as single-cell analysis, protein measurement, and bioimaging.
