Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Applications in Elemental Bioimaging

Laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has emerged as a cornerstone technique for mapping the spatial distribution of trace and major elements in biological tissues. By directing a focussed laser beam to ablate minute volumes of sample, followed by ionisation in a high-temperature plasma and mass analysis, it offers sub-cellular lateral resolution alongside low detection limits. Recent enhancements in ablation cell design, transport efficiency and mass analyser configurations have elevated throughput, sensitivity and quantitative reliability. Multidimensional imaging, ranging from two-dimensional tissue sections to three-dimensional organ reconstructions, now enables detailed interrogation of elemental heterogeneity in health and disease. Applications span from mapping metal accumulation in neurodegenerative disorders to tracking nutrient uptake in plant pathology and assessing toxic metal deposition in environmental bioindicators. Critical advances in calibration strategy—through matrix-matched standards and semiquantitative workflows—have addressed longstanding issues of elemental fractionation and matrix effects. Integration with complementary modalities, such as immunohistochemistry and mass cytometry, is further broadening interpretative power by correlating elemental maps with molecular and cellular markers. Collectively, LA-ICP-MS bioimaging provides a versatile platform for elucidating elemental pathways, assessing therapeutic efficacy and guiding environmental and biomedical decision-making.

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Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Applications in Elemental Bioimaging publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry applications in elemental bioimaging across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Laser Ablation (LA): A process that uses a focussed laser pulse to remove microscopic amounts of material from a sample surface for subsequent analysis.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS): An analytical technique in which sample aerosol is ionised in a plasma and ions are separated by mass-to-charge ratio for elemental quantification.

Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOFMS): A mass analyser that measures the time ions take to travel a known distance, enabling simultaneous detection of a wide mass range.

Matrix-Matched Standard: A calibration material whose composition closely resembles that of the sample, minimising matrix effects and improving quantitative accuracy.

Triple Quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ): An ICP-MS configuration with two mass filters separated by a reaction cell, allowing selective removal of interferences and enhanced sensitivity for target isotopes.

References

1. Semiquantitative Analysis for High-Speed Mapping Applications of Biological Samples Using LA-ICP-TOFMS. Analytical Chemistry (2023).
2. Development of matrix-specific standards for LA-ICP-MS zinc analysis in sand flathead (Platycephalus bassensis). Environmental Pollution (2024).
3. Recent developments in the design of rapid response cells for laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and their impact on bioimaging applications. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2016).
4. Recent advances in quantitative LA-ICP-MS analysis: challenges and solutions in the life sciences and environmental chemistry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2015).
5. Elemental bio-imaging using laser ablation-triple quadrupole-ICP-MS. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2016).
6. A guide to integrating immunohistochemistry and chemical imaging. Chemical Society Reviews (2018).