AVS 61st International Symposium & Exhibition
    Applied Surface Science Wednesday Sessions
       Session AS+BI+MC-WeM

Paper AS+BI+MC-WeM13
Visualizing Pharmaceutical Compounds in Single-cells with label-free 3D Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 12:00 pm, Room 316

Session: Chemical Imaging in 2D and 3D
Presenter: Melissa K. Passarelli, National Physical Laboratory, UK
Authors: M.K. Passarelli, National Physical Laboratory, UK
C. Newman, National Physical Laboratory, UK
A. West, University of York, UK
C.T. Dollery, National Physical Laboratory, UK
I.S. Gilmore, National Physical Laboratory, UK
J. Bunch, National Physical Laboratory
Correspondent: Click to Email
Drug-induced phospholipidosis is an adverse side-effect that hinders the therapeutic value of some pharmaceutical compounds. In this report, three-dimensional secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging was used to investigate the cellular uptake of phospholipidosis–inducing pharmaceutical compounds. A fast and simple sample preparation method, frozen dehydrated, was used to extract the drug compound to the surface layers of individual cells. Although the native localization of drug compound within the cell is lost, the compound was isolated to the confines of the individual cells and matrix-related effects were no longer a concern. With this method we were able to successfully detect intact-unlabeled drug compound at therapeutic dosages in macrophages. Relative quantification of the drug compound in individual cells was achieved. Overall, this approach provides a platform for studying cellular uptake of pharmaceutical compounds at the single cell level. This system also provides a model for studying metrology of cell imaging using SIMS. The effects of sample preparation and limitations of current technologies will be discussed along with new possibilities for the future.