Absolute Quantification of Nanoparticle Interactions with Individual Human B Cells by Single Cell Mass Spectrometry

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 22; no. 10; pp. 4192 - 4199
• Main Authors: Donahue, Nathan D., Sheth, Vinit, Frickenstein, Alex N., Holden, Alyssa, Kanapilly, Sandy, Stephan, Chady, Wilhelm, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 25-05-2022
• Subjects: Humans; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Nanoparticles; Spectrum Analysis; B cell; Elemental Analysis; Single-Cell ICP-MS; Nanoparticle; Nano-Bio Interactions; Mass Spectrometry
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c01037

We report on the absolute quantification of nanoparticle interactions with individual human B cells using quadrupole-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This method enables the quantification of nanoparticle–cell interactions at single nanoparticle and single cell levels. We demonstrate the efficient and accurate detection of individually suspended B cells and found an ∼100-fold higher association of colloidally stable positively charged nanoparticles with single B cells than neutrally charged nanoparticles. We confirmed that these nanoparticles were internalized by individual B cells and determined that the internalization occurred via energy-dependent pathways consistent with endocytosis. Using dual analyte ICP-MS, we determined that >80% of single B cells were positive for nanoparticles. Our study demonstrates an ICP-MS workflow for the absolute quantification of nanoparticle–cell interactions with single cell and single nanoparticle resolution. This unique workflow could inform the rational design of various nanomaterials for controlling cellular interactions, including immune cell–nanoparticle interactions.