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Article

Design, Optimization, and Application of a 3D-Printed Polymer Sample Introduction System for the ICP-MS Analysis of Nanoparticles and Cells

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Department of Molecular and Analytical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 7-8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
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Center of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, 3D Center University of Szeged, Tisza Lajos Boulevard 107, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary
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Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged, Dóm Square 9, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
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ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Photoacoustic Monitoring of Environmental Processes, Dóm Square 9, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
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HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Biophysics, Temesvári Boulevard 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
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HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Center, Temesvári Boulevard 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(23), 3018; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233018
Submission received: 13 October 2023 / Revised: 17 November 2023 / Accepted: 21 November 2023 / Published: 25 November 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures)

Abstract

Commonly used sample introduction systems for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are generally not well-suited for single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) applications due to their high sample requirements and low efficiency. In this study, the first completely 3D-printed, polymer SIS was developed to facilitate spICP-MS analysis. The system is based on a microconcentric pneumatic nebulizer and a single-pass spray chamber with an additional sheath gas flow to further facilitate the transport of larger droplets or particles. The geometry of the system was optimized using numerical simulations. Its aerosol characteristics and operational conditions were studied via optical particle counting and a course of spICP-MS measurements, involving nanodispersions and cell suspensions. In a comparison of the performance of the new and the standard (quartz microconcentric nebulizer plus a double-pass spray chamber) systems, it was found that the new sample introduction system has four times higher particle detection efficiency, significantly better signal-to-noise ratio, provides ca. 20% lower size detection limit, and allows an extension of the upper limit of transportable particle diameters to about 25 µm.
Keywords: nanoparticle analysis; single cell analysis; 3D-printing; sample introduction; single particle ICP-MS nanoparticle analysis; single cell analysis; 3D-printing; sample introduction; single particle ICP-MS

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kajner, G.; Bélteki, Á.; Cseh, M.; Geretovszky, Z.; Ajtai, T.; Barna, L.; Deli, M.A.; Pap, B.; Maróti, G.; Galbács, G. Design, Optimization, and Application of a 3D-Printed Polymer Sample Introduction System for the ICP-MS Analysis of Nanoparticles and Cells. Nanomaterials 2023, 13, 3018. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233018

AMA Style

Kajner G, Bélteki Á, Cseh M, Geretovszky Z, Ajtai T, Barna L, Deli MA, Pap B, Maróti G, Galbács G. Design, Optimization, and Application of a 3D-Printed Polymer Sample Introduction System for the ICP-MS Analysis of Nanoparticles and Cells. Nanomaterials. 2023; 13(23):3018. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233018

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kajner, Gyula, Ádám Bélteki, Martin Cseh, Zsolt Geretovszky, Tibor Ajtai, Lilla Barna, Mária A. Deli, Bernadett Pap, Gergely Maróti, and Gábor Galbács. 2023. "Design, Optimization, and Application of a 3D-Printed Polymer Sample Introduction System for the ICP-MS Analysis of Nanoparticles and Cells" Nanomaterials 13, no. 23: 3018. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233018

APA Style

Kajner, G., Bélteki, Á., Cseh, M., Geretovszky, Z., Ajtai, T., Barna, L., Deli, M. A., Pap, B., Maróti, G., & Galbács, G. (2023). Design, Optimization, and Application of a 3D-Printed Polymer Sample Introduction System for the ICP-MS Analysis of Nanoparticles and Cells. Nanomaterials, 13(23), 3018. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13233018

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