I want to measure the uptake of Cadmium, Strontium and Arsenic by cells. I want to do it in live cells mainly, so it will be better if someone can suggest any methods involving microscopy. Any spectroscopic methods will also be okay. We can do it by raman spectroscopy coupled with confocal, though some easier-to-do methods will be most welcome.
Hi Arijit, do you have access to an atomic absorption spectrometer? That is the only way I know how to test for trace metals.
If there are easier ways to do it, I would be interested to hear about it.
Dear, Arijit Ghosh,
Please let me know about the sample type (individual cell like bacteria or tissue).
this not a easy task.
You can use the the evidence coming (elemental date ) from Scanning electron microscopic date (not the scrimmages) for the task. but there is no trust about the life of the tissue or cells.
regards
Piyal
Hi Arijit,
The point here is that you want to measure metal concentration inside the cell, right? The most siimple technique is to obtain a pool of these cells in a stable suspension. Centrifuge it and ressuspend this solution with new metal free solution couple of times. Afterwards, this cell pellets should acid digested and metal analysed by grafite furnace atomic absorption spectrocospy. There are some references using this approach for erithrocytes and leucocytes.
Hi Arijit...I agree with Jose Antonio...you can use these cell pellets and digest them with ultrapure nitric acid. If you are expecting low concentrations...you can use and ICP-MS for small volumen and lower concentrations!. Good luck!.
Hi Steingrimur, I am sorry to say that we do not have access to an atomic absorption spectrometer.
Piyal, the sample is cells, to be more specific, osteoblasts, and it is ok if the cells are dead but the precision of the measurement of these elements is very important.
Hi Jose Antonio and Gabriel, as I mentioned in my previous comment, I do not have access to an atomic absorption spectrometer, but ICP-MS can be used for this? Then I can do that. But digesting the cells with acid, why is that important?
These are heavy meatals and I Think AAS will do these 3 heavy metal very well.
Dear Arijit...you need to have your metals in solution in order to take that sample into an ICP-MS or AAS analyses. You will remove all the organic matter and keep minerals or metals in solution after acid digestión. ICP-MS is a very sensitive analytical technique, but you need to know the procedure in detail in advance. I also recomend you to use bone certify material for QC!
Hi Taratisio and Gabriel, I do not have access to AAS, but I will study more about ICP-MS and get back to you with a better idea about compatibility with my sample.
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