Degueldre, C. (2021) Single virus inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy analysis : A comprehensive study. Talanta, 228: 122211. ISSN 0039-9140
TAL_D_20_04702_R2.pdf - Accepted Version
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Abstract
The characterisation of individual nanoparticles by single particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) has paved the way for the analysis of smallest biological systems. This study suggests to adapting this method for single viruses (SV) identification and counting. With high resolution multi-channel sector field (MC SF) ICP-MS records in SV detection mode, the counting of master and key ions can allow analysis and identification of single viruses. The counting of 2–500 virial units can be performed in 20 s. Analyses are proposed to be carried out in Ar torch for master ions: 12C+, 13C+, 14N+, 15N+, and key ions 31P+, 32S+, 33S+ and 34S+. All interferences are discussed in detail. The use of high resolution SF ICP-MS is recommended while options with anaerobic/aerobic atmospheres are explored to upgrade the analysis when using quadrupole ICP-MS. Application for two virus types (SARS-COV2 and bacteriophage T5) is investigated using time scan and fixed mass analysis for the selected virus ions allowing characterisation of the species using the N/C, P/C and S/C molar ratio's and quantification of their number concentration.