Nu Instruments | Measuring Metal Tagged Markers and Endogenous Elements in Single Cells with Vitesse ICP-MS

Flow cytometry and mass cytometry have become essential tools for analysing individual cells, providing insights that are not possible through bulk measurements. Vitesse extends these capabilities by combining metal-labelled antibody detection with the measurement of endogenous elements such as Fe, Ca and P, helping researchers gain a more complete understanding of cellular function, metallomics and metabolomics.

Using a high-speed time of flight ICP-MS platform with continuous 80 µs spectral acquisition, Vitesse captures rapid transient signals from individual cells with high confidence. Combined with specialised single-cell introduction systems and Nu Quant software, the workflow enables the analysis of hundreds of cells per second while reducing large datasets into manageable cell-by-cell results.

The processed data can be exported in Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) format, making it compatible with established software packages such as FlowJo. Researchers can identify cell populations through metal-labelled antibodies and then investigate differences in endogenous elemental content, including sensitive measurements of ⁵⁶Fe, to better understand cellular behaviour and biological processes.

Key Takeaways:

• Measure both metal-tagged biomarkers and endogenous elements in individual cells within a single analysis workflow.
• Analyse hundreds of cells per second with high-confidence cell event identification and data reduction through Nu Quant software.
• Export results to standard FCS format for advanced evaluation in common flow cytometry software platforms.