Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer for High Sensitivity Elemental Analysis

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Project Summary/Abstract The long term objective of this proposal is to help researchers with NIH or other federally funded projects to better understand the role of trace elements in biology or medicine. The Elemental Analysis Core (EAC) at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) analyses biological specimen for their elemental content using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). As a University Shared Resource at OHSU, the EAC primarily serves users from OHSU and the Portland Area, however, because of our unique expertise in trace elemental analysis we also collaborate with many investigators across the US and Canada. Since inception of the EAC in 2011 we have analyzed ~14,000 samples and have steadily increased our annual sample load. Our current instrumentation, a single quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, was funded by an S10 grant in 2009 and no longer meets the needs and asks for a majority of our user base. We are therefore requesting funds to replace this instrument with an Agilent 8900 triple quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer with single particle option. This new, state-of-the-art instrument, will greatly improve our current services and add an entirely new technique, elemental analysis of signle particles, to our portfolio. It overcomes limitations of the single quad instrument such as analyzing samples for their sulfur content or titanium concentration and improvements in detector technology offer a 10 – 100 fold increase in sensitivity. The vastly increased detector speed in combination with enhanced sensitivity allows for measuring elemental concentration for one particle at a time using a specialized sample introduction system. This will enable used to determine concentrations of trace elements in single cells or nanoparticles, for example. We will also develop protocols to detect contents in subcellular organelles such as mitochondria. Dr. Ralle, the Director of the EAC, has over 25 years of experience in the bioanalytical aspects of trace elements in biology; she is an internationally recognized expert for elemental analysis and has successfully managed the EAC. It is because of her expertise and reputation clients from across the US send samples to the EAC for analyses to OHSU. There are currently no comparable instruments with this setup anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, or Northern California. This new instrument will create a powerful elemental analysis resource for biomedical researchers across the US.