An analytical workflow for dynamic characterization and quantification of metal-bearing nanomaterials in biological matrices

DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00701-x

Authors: Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh (University of Eastern Finland; Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries) , Zhiling Guo (University of Birmingham) , Peng Zhang (University of Birmingham; University of Science and Technology of China) , Martina G. Vijver (Leiden University) , Iseult Lynch (University of Birmingham) , Eugenia Valsami-Jones (University of Birmingham) , Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg (Leiden University; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM))
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature Protocols , VOL 13

State: Published (Approved)
Published: June 2022
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 20567

Abstract: To assess the safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and to evaluate and improve ENMs’ targeting ability for medical application, it is necessary to analyze the fate of these materials in biological media. This protocol presents a workflow that allows researchers to determine, characterize and quantify metal-bearing ENMs (M-ENMs) in biological tissues and cells and quantify their dynamic behavior at trace-level concentrations. Sample preparation methods to enable analysis of M-ENMs in a single cell, a cell layer, tissue, organ and physiological media (e.g., blood, gut content, hemolymph) of different (micro)organisms, e.g., bacteria, animals and plants are presented. The samples are then evaluated using fit-for-purpose analytical techniques e.g., single-cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and synchrotron X-ray absorption fine structure, providing a protocol that allows comprehensive characterization and quantification of M-ENMs in biological matrices. Unlike previous methods, the protocol uses no fluorescent dyes or radiolabels to trace M-ENMs in biota and enables analysis of most M-ENMs at cellular, tissue and organism levels. The protocols can be applied by a wide variety of users depending on the intended purpose of the application, e.g., to correlate toxicity with a specific particle form, or to understand the absorption, distribution and excretion of M-ENMs. The results facilitate an understanding of the biological fate of M-ENMs and their dynamic behavior in biota. Performing the protocol may take 7–30 d, depending on which combination of methods is applied.

Subject Areas: Materials, Biology and Bio-materials


Instruments: I08-Scanning X-ray Microscopy beamline (SXM)

Added On: 04/07/2022 11:06

Discipline Tags:

Health & Wellbeing Materials Science Nanoscience/Nanotechnology Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Microscopy Spectroscopy X-ray Microscopy Scanning X-ray Microscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structures (NEXAFS)