Method of counting nanoparticle tags in solid samples

Abstract

A method of counting inorganic nanoparticle tags in a sample uses laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP MS) and requires the steps of: a) providing a sample containing inorganic nanoparticle tags, the sample having at least one absorbing component capable of absorbing the energy of a laser at least one predetermined wavelength, b) irradiating a spot in the sample by a laser emitting at the at least one predetermined wavelength, thereby exciting and ablating the absorbing component on the illuminated spot, thereby causing desorption of the inorganic nanoparticle tag(s) which are present in the irradiated spot without disintegrating the inorganic nanoparticle tag(s), c) transferring the desorbed inorganic nanoparticle tag(s) into an ICP torch, subjecting it to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and detecting spike(s) of the individual inorganic nanoparticle tag(s); and d) optionally repeating steps b) and c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.