Stabilized Cell Injection for ICP Elemental Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sources in elemental analysis face challenges with sample stabilization and contamination, leading to instability and resolution issues during ionization, particularly in multiplexed elemental analysis of element-labeled cells, where metal elements cause background noise and clogging.
Innovation Solution
A stabilizing solution with low total dissolved solids (≤0.2%) and a heated injector are used to minimize osmotic pressure and prevent clogging, featuring a salt like ammonium nitrate at concentrations of at least 5 mM, which maintains signal stability and prevents buildup, allowing for extended analyzer operation without significant signal drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cells are suspended in water to avoid metal background noise, then background noise is reduced, but cells become unstable and prone to osmotic lysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the suspension medium by adding salts (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, MgCl2) to create an isotonic environment. This maintains cell integrity through osmotic balance while still allowing elemental analysis to proceed, resolving the contradiction between low background noise and cell stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite suspension medium combining water with multiple salt components. This composite solution provides both the low background noise of water and the stabilizing osmotic pressure of salts, simultaneously addressing both requirements
2Loss of time
If sample is stored and then injected into ICP source, then sample can be prepared in advance, but sample stability degrades and resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary stabilization action by adding salts to the sample suspension before storage. This pre-treatment prevents degradation during storage, allowing advance preparation without losing sample integrity or resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The salt solution acts as a protective cushion against osmotic stress during storage. This beforehand protection prevents cell lysis and maintains sample stability throughout the storage and injection process
3Productivity
If traditional ICP-based elemental analyzer is used over time, then analysis can be performed continuously, but contamination builds up on the injector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contamination problem by using a salt-based suspension medium that prevents caking and buildup on injector surfaces. This extraction of the harmful deposition mechanism allows continuous operation without contamination accumulation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively stabilizes samples during ionization, reduces contamination, and maintains signal integrity over extended periods, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of elemental analysis by preventing osmotic lysis and clogging in ICP-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
A stabilizing solution with low total dissolved solids (≤0.2%) and a heated injector are used to minimize osmotic pressure and prevent clogging
Implementation Method 2
A stabilizing solution with low total dissolved solids (≤0.2%) and a heated injector are used to minimize osmotic pressure and prevent clogging
Implementation Method 3
plasma is generated when a flow of gas, such as argon, is ionized in an intense electromagnetic field
Implementation Method 4
a sample provided to the plasma generated by an ICP source can be ionized and atomized before being analyzed
Data Source
AI summary
Analyzing samples injected into an inductively coupled plasma source can be improved by one or more of a stabilizing solution mixable with a sample prior to injection and a heated injector. The stabilizing solution can minimize the difference in osmotic pressure between the solution and the cells with a relatively low amount of dissolved solids (e.g., at or below about 0.2%). The stabilizing solution can contain a salt (e.g., ammonium nitrate) present in concentrations of at least 5 mM. The injector can be heated before and/or during injection. In some cases, heat from adjacent parts can be channeled into the injector to improve heating of the injector. An injector heated to sufficient temperatures can minimize solute buildup and can extend the usable time between cleanings. These improvements can be especially useful in elemental analysis, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.