Rapid cell mode switching and dual laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for elemental bioimaging.

摘要: RATIONALE Two different approaches to improve the limits of detection (LODs) in elemental bioimaging have been developed. They both consider fact that for widely applied quadrupole-based instruments, metals mass range <100 u are analyzed with best figures merit kinetic energy discrimination (KED) mode; much better LODs achieved some metalloids and nonmetals by introduction more reactive gases, e.g., oxygen, into collision/reaction cell (CRC). METHODS While first approach simultaneously utilizes two inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS) detectors hyphenated one laser ablation (LA) system, second is based on a single ICP-MS instrument fast mode switching (CMS) CRC between individual line scans. RESULTS Both methods were evaluated concerning their respective improvements analysis rat brain samples. The utilization showed improved compared conventional KED-only dependency gas flow splitting ratio, sulfur about 3.5 orders magnitude. CMS provided even results further improvement factor 1.6. CONCLUSIONS As small inner volume was used, switches at end every prevented issues related reproducibility stage approach. Linear interpolation found be valuable tool without affecting spatial resolution images. In addition, software macro presented, which facilitates data evaluation.