Substrate-assisted laser desorption inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for determination of copper in myeloid leukemia cells

Abstract

This work presents a detailed characterization of substrate-assisted laser desorption inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SALD ICP-MS), a new approach in the determination of trace elements in submicrolitre volumes. SALD ICP-MS allows quantitative analysis of metals in liquid samples with defined volumes deposited onto an absorbing substrate due to complete sample desorption at relatively low laser power density. Analysis of model samples of Cu(II) showed a constant signal over a wide range of laser power density, an independence of signal on desorption modes and a wide linear dynamic range. SALD ICP-MS with its limit of detection for copper below 26 fg in submicrolitre samples was successfully applied to investigate cytotoxic effects of disulfiram in human myeloid leukemia cells U937 depending on intracellular levels of copper.