Life Sciences
Advance Life Science Research with High-Precision Elemental and Isotopic Analysis
Supporting new research areas in Life Sciences
Generate deeper biological, biomedical, and environmental insights through accurate isotopic and trace element measurements across complex life science samples.
From biomarker studies and metabolic research to trace element analysis and isotope tracing, Nu Instruments provides advanced ICP-MS and IRMS solutions designed to deliver high-quality analytical data for life science investigations.
Life science research increasingly relies on sensitive elemental and isotopic measurements to understand biological processes, disease mechanisms, nutrient cycling, and therapeutic development. High-performance mass spectrometry enables researchers to investigate trace elements, isotopic signatures, metabolic pathways, and biological interactions with greater analytical confidence across a wide range of sample types.
Trace elemental and isotopic analysis with high sensitivity, making it valuable for impurity monitoring and advanced nanomaterial research.
Exceptional speed and elemental coverage, analysing nearly the entire periodic table thousands of times per second.
Enables high-precision isotopic measurements and advanced elemental investigations where isotope tracing or material provenance studies are required.
Featured Publications
Measuring Metal-Tagged Markers and Endogenous Elements in Single Cells
Precise Calcium Isotope Determination with Dual-Path MC-ICP-MS
HR-ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS
Trace Element Analysis in Biological Samples
Understanding the role of trace and ultra-trace elements in biological systems is critical for advancing research in human health, nutrition, toxicology, and environmental exposure assessment. Researchers routinely analyse tissues, blood, urine, plant materials, and other biological matrices to investigate elemental imbalances, nutrient uptake, metal toxicity, and disease-related changes. Accurate elemental measurements at extremely low concentrations enable scientists to generate reliable datasets that support both fundamental biological research and applied health studies.
ICP-TOF-MS, MC-ICP-MS
Metallomics and Metal-Based Biomarker Research
Metallomics focuses on understanding the role, distribution, and transformation of metals within biological systems. Researchers investigate how essential and toxic elements interact with proteins, metabolites, cells, and tissues to influence biological function, disease progression, and therapeutic response. These studies are increasingly important in areas such as neurodegenerative disease research, cancer biology, nutrition, toxicology, and precision medicine.
Advanced ICP-MS and TOF-ICP-MS techniques enable the sensitive detection of trace metals while supporting comprehensive multi-element analysis across complex biological samples. High-speed simultaneous elemental acquisition can reveal subtle changes in metal homeostasis, elemental interactions, and metal-based biomarkers, helping researchers gain deeper insight into the relationship between metal chemistry and human health
HR-ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS
Biomedical and Clinical Research
Modern biomedical research requires analytical technologies capable of detecting small but significant changes in elemental and isotopic composition across a wide range of biological samples. Researchers use these measurements to investigate disease mechanisms, identify potential biomarkers, evaluate therapeutic interventions, and better understand physiological processes at both the molecular and systemic level.
Applications range from investigating metal homeostasis in neurodegenerative disorders to examining nutrient utilisation, drug distribution, and metabolic responses in clinical and translational research. The ability to generate reproducible, high-quality analytical data is essential for supporting robust scientific conclusions and accelerating discovery.
TOF, HR-ICP-MS
Imaging and Nanomedicine Research
The growth of nanotechnology and spatial biology has created increasing demand for techniques capable of visualising elemental distributions within biological systems. Researchers seek to understand where specific elements, nanoparticles, and therapeutic compounds accumulate within tissues, cells, and organs to better evaluate biological function, treatment efficacy, and potential toxicity.
Advanced ICP-MS imaging techniques enable detailed investigation of elemental localisation at high speed and sensitivity, supporting applications in nanomedicine, drug delivery, toxicology, and biomedical materials research. By combining spatially resolved elemental information with quantitative analysis, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of complex biological interactions.
