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H2020Individual fellowship2022–2023

NanoMuSiC · Nanoparticle and Multielement Quantification in Single Cells: Exploring New Analytical Methods

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-05-01 → 2023-10-31
EU contribution
€131,105
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Nanoparticle and Multielement Quantification in Single Cells: Exploring New Analytical Methods

Analysis of trace elements in cells (naturally present or taken up by them, e.g. nanoparticles) by classical methods only provides average values of cell populations but hides the individual behavior of the cells. For this reason, the chemical analysis of single cells is an expanding research area that has become increasingly important to reveal the mechanisms of various physiological processes. In this framework, ultra-sensitive and accurate methods to quantify trace elements and the uptake of elemental species and nanoparticles in single cells are scarce and urgently required. The NanoMuSiC Project focuses on developing analytical methods for multielemental quantification as well as elemental species and metal-based nanoparticle uptake in single cells. These methods will boost investigations towards cellular elemental composition and elemental species-cell and nanoparticle-cell interactions and thus may be of enormous relevance for many research fields.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Genetically identical cells observed as a population can be significantly heterogeneous when studied individually, and this heterogeneity can change the behavior of entire cell populations. In particular, some trace elements play important roles in cell processes. Classical analytical methods to measure (trace) elemental composition in cells (naturally present or taken up by them, e.g. nanoparticles) provide information only about the average of the cell population thus disregarding important cell-to-cell variances. In this context, single-cell inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry has been gaining special attention to evaluate elements and nanoparticles as well as multiparameters in single cells. However, our currently available information and quantitative data on multielemental composition and uptake of toxic elemental species and metal oxide nanoparticles in single cells are still scarce. NanoMuSiC project will develop new sensitive and accurate analytical methods based on the coupling between a microdroplet generator to the state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma-time of flight-mass spectrometry for multielement quantification and for evaluating the uptake of elemental species and metal-based nanoparticles in single cells. These methods will be applied to proof-of-concept ecotoxicological applications employing diatoms (single cells) and environmentally relevant elemental species and nanoparticles. Through these developed methodologies and results, the NanoMuSiC project will provide new insights on cellular elemental composition and elemental species-cell and nanoparticle-cell interactions. Besides, they will support further investigations of effects and potential risks of elemental species and nanoparticles to the environment and human health, two relevant issues within EU Commission priorities for 2019-24, e.g. European Green Deal strategy to protect the environment and human health by cutting pollution.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • BUNDESANSTALT FUER MATERIALFORSCHUNG UND -PRUEFUNG · BerlinCoordinatorGermany

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union