Project

Ultrafast-scanning tandem ICP-mass spectrometer for interference-free and highly-sensitive transient signal monitoring

Code
3I007222
Duration
01 May 2022 → 30 April 2026
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Promotor-spokesperson
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Instrumental methods
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Medical imaging and therapy not elsewhere classified
    • Cancer biology
    • Pharmaceutical technology
  • Engineering and technology
    • Nanomaterials
Keywords
Single-event ICP-MS spectral interference LA-ICP-MS bio-imaging (ultra)trace element transient signal monitoring
 
Project description

ICP-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is the most powerful technique for trace and ultra-trace elemental analysis. The A&MS research unit aspires the purchase of a secondgeneration tandem ICP-mass spectrometer for successfully addressing applications involving short transient signals, such as those encountered when using high-end laser ablation as a means of sample introduction in bio-imaging applications, or when introducing discrete entities into the ICP ion source – e.g., for the characterization of engineered nanoparticles or the analysis of individual cells. Tandem ICP-MS units are equipped with two quadrupole mass filters and a collision/reaction cell located in-between (Q1-CRCQ2) and offer unprecedented capabilities for overcoming spectral overlap via chemical resolution. The combination of the ultrafast detection (up to 10,000 read-outs per second) attainable with the second-generation of this instrument type with the extensive capabilities to create interference-free conditions will permit novel types of analytical applications, providing crucial information in various research fields