Publication details
Endocyted gold-nanoparticles in intact-cell mass spectrometry
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were recently reported to increase ionization of biomolecules in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) Mass Spectrometry (MS) of complex biological samples, such as cells and tissues.[1-2] In this setup, the matrix-sample mixture is enriched with AuNPs of various size and geometry that most probably enhance distribution of laser energy throughout the sample and facilitate ionization and/or quantum nano-plasmons effects during the process of measurements. We asked, whether AuNPs endocyted by cultured cells can enhance subsequent MS analysis. In this work, we treated HEK293 cells with either polyhedral or flower-like AuNPs or left them untreated and cultured them overnight. Then the cells were washed, harvested, mixed with matrix and directly analyzed by MS. Both the polyhedral and flower-like AuNPs were massively endocyted by HEK293 cells. The mass spectra acquired from intact cells containing endocyted AuNPs showed an increase of intensity of specific peaks. Interestingly, mass spectra generated from intact cells containing polyhedral or flower-like AuNPs showed differences in m/z or intensity values, suggesting selective effect of AuNPs structure on cell targets. The endocyted nanoparticles can interact with various components of cellular metabolism. The interactions of AuNPs with biomolecular pool in living cells can therefore extend the analytical approaches such as MALDI, SALDI (Surface Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) or NALDI (Nano Particles Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization) used in intact cell MS. |