Combining secondary ion mass spectrometry image depth profiling and single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to investigate the uptake and biodistribution of gold nanoparticles in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published

May 20, 2021

Author(s)

Monique Johnson, Joe Bennett, Antonio Montoro Bustos, Shannon Hanna, Andrei Kolmakov, Nicholas Sharp, Elijah Petersen, Christopher Sims, Bryant Nelson, Patricia Lapasset

Abstract

Analytical techniques capable of determining the spatial distribution and quantity (mass and/or particle number) of engineered nanomaterials in organisms are essential for characterizing nano-bio interactions and for nanomaterial risk assessments. Here, we combine the use of dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (dynamic SIMS) and single particle inductively coupled mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) techniques to determine the biodistribution and quantity of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) ingested by Caenorhabditis elegans. We report the application of SIMS in image depth profiling mode for visualizing, identifying, and characterizing the biodistribution of AuNPs ingested by nematodes in both the lateral and z (depth) dimensions. In parallel, conventional- and sp-ICP-MS quantified the mean number of AuNPs within the nematode, ranging from 2 to 36 NPs depending on the size of AuNP. The complementary data from both SIMS image depth profiling and spICP-MS provides a complete view of the uptake, translocation, and size distribution of ingested NPs within Caenorhabditis elegans.

Citation

Analytica Chimica ACTA

Issue

1175

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338671

Local Download

Keywords

uptake, nanoparticles, SIMS, single particle ICP-MS, Caenorhabditis elegans

Citation

Johnson, M. , Bennett, J. , Montoro Bustos, A. , Hanna, S. , Kolmakov, A. , Sharp, N. , Petersen, E. , Sims, C. , Nelson, B. and Lapasset, P. (2021), Combining secondary ion mass spectrometry image depth profiling and single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to investigate the uptake and biodistribution of gold nanoparticles in Caenorhabditis elegans, Analytica Chimica ACTA, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2021.338671, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=929421 (Accessed October 17, 2025)