Rare-earth Isotopes Research Articles

Quantifying mass-dependent isotope fractionation and nuclear field shift effects for the light rare Earth elements in hydrous systems

The improving sensitivity of mass-spectrometers has opened the potential of using stable isotope signatures of the rare Earth elements (REE) as geochemical tracers. However, thus far only limited studies have utilised REE stable isotopes, despite resolvable variations having been observed in a range of systems. An interesting but poorly explored area remains variations in aqueous environments across a range of temperatures including seawater, marine sediments, ion adsorption deposits or hydrothermal systems. Furthermore, the magnitudes and competing effects of mass-dependent isotope fractionation and mass-independent nuclear field shift effects, which can be significant factor for heavy elements especially at high temperatures, remain poorly understood.To contribute to a holistic understanding of REE isotope signatures, we calculated reduced partition function ratios (as 103lnβ) for mass-dependent and nuclear field shift effects for aqueous La, Ce, and Nd complexes from first principles. Theoretical calculations were compared with experimental data, and this demonstrates that calculations involving a combination of two explicit hydration shells and additional implicit solvation effects are required to accurately describe the coordination and molecular vibrations of aqueous complexes. This data was then combined with speciation modelling of seawater and hydrothermal fluids to assess isotope fractionation in hydrous systems. The predicted magnitude of isotope fractionation is significant in low (T = 25 °C) temperature systems (Δ139/138LaMax-Min = 0.20 ‰, Δ142/140CeMax-Min = 0.33 ‰, Δ146/144NdMax-Min = 0.34 ‰) and remains above currently achievable analytical uncertainties even at high (T = 500 °C) temperatures (±0.015 ‰ for δ146/144Nd; ±0.040 ‰ for δ142/140Ce). Unless oxidation occurs, which is only relevant for Ce in terrestrial environments, nuclear field shift effects are negligible even at temperatures up to 500 °C. The large difference in nuclear charge radius between 140Ce and 142Ce strongly enriches the lighter Ce isotope in the higher oxidation state (103lnβCe(IV)-Ce(III) = −0.45 at 25 °C) which almost completely cancels out the opposing mass-dependent effect (103lnβCe(IV)-Ce(III) = +0.46 at 25 °C). This means that variations in δ142/140Ce isotope signatures cannot easily be related to oxidation in ancient or recent environments.

Study of Octupole Transitions in Xe, Ba, Ce and Nd Nuclei within Interacting Boson Model

For nuclei with 54≤Z≤60 and 86≤N≤94, the results regarding the excitation spectra at low energies, both in positive and negative parity, as well as the transition probabilities for electric dipole (B(E1)), quadrupole (B(E2)), and octupole transitions (B(E(3)), indicate the emergence of significant octupole behavior. These observations have been made using the Interacting Boson Model-1 (IBM-1). The study examines the onset of octupole deformation and its impact on the spectroscopic characteristics in even-even neutron-rich lanthanide isotopes, specifically in the Ba and Nd nuclei. The investigation compares the results obtained from the Interacting Boson Model-1 (IBM-1) with the existing experimental data. The focus is on understanding how the addition of neutrons influences the development of octupole deformation and its manifestation in the observed spectroscopic features. The onset of strong octupolarity for Z≈ 56 and N ≈ 88 nuclei is indicated by the results obtained for the electric dipole, quadrupole, and octupole transition probabilities, as well as the low-energy positive and negative-parity excitation spectra. Conversely, discrepancies between the spectroscopic data and the IBM results suggest that the mapping quality needs to be evaluated in order to determine if the mapped boson Hamiltonian or the fermionic calculations are the source of the issues.

Magnetic dipole γ-ray strength functions of heavy nuclei in the configuration-interaction shell model

A low-energy enhancement (LEE) has been observed in the deexcitation γ-ray strength function (γSF) of compound nuclei. The LEE has been a subject of intense experimental and theoretical interest since its discovery, and, if the LEE persists in heavy neutron-rich nuclei, it would have significant effects on calculations of r-process nucleosynthesis. Standard configuration-interaction (CI) shell-model calculations in medium-mass nuclei have attributed the LEE to the magnetic dipole γSF but such calculations are computationally intractable in heavy nuclei. We review a combination of beyond-mean-field many-body methods within the framework of the CI shell model that enables the calculation of γSF in heavy nuclei, and discuss the recent theoretical identification of a LEE in the magnetic dipole γSF of lanthanide isotopes.

ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTION OF RARE-EARTH ISOTOPES AT THE WWR-K RESEARCH REACTOR: PROMISING THERAPEUTIC RADIONUCLIDES

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, including lanthanides and scandium and yttrium. These elements have unique physical and chemical properties that make them valuable in various industries, including electronics, magnets, and catalysts. However, radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements also possess effective nuclear physical properties that make them promising for the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic purposes. These radioactive isotopes have unstable atoms with excess nuclear energy, and they undergo radioactive decay, which can be utilized for medical applications.The nuclear physical properties of radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements make them suitable for therapeutic purposes in medicine. For example, technetium-99m, a radioactive isotope of technetium, is widely used in diagnostic nuclear medicine due to its outstanding physical-chemical characteristics. Other radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements, such as holmium-166, have been established for a broad spectrum of medical applications. These isotopes can be used in targeted radiation therapy to treat various diseases, including cancer. The unique properties of these radioactive isotopes allow for precise targeting and delivery of radiation to specific tissues or cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.The potential of radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements for therapeutic purposes extends beyond the current applications. Ongoing research and innovations in the field of radiopharmaceuticals continue to explore the use of underutilized lanthanoid radionuclides for theranostic purposes. For example, astatine, a rare and highly radioactive element, exhibits multiple isotopes that can be potentially utilized in targeted therapy. The development of new radiopharmaceuticals using radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements holds promise for advancing medical treatments and improving patient outcomes. With further research and advancements, these isotopes may play a crucial role in the future of therapeutic medicine.This research work makes it possible to evaluate the possibility of obtaining REE such radioisotopes as: 90Y, 141Ce, 147Nd, 153Sm, 165Dy, 166Ho, 169Tm, 175Yb, 177Yb, 177Lu by reaction (n, γ) at the WWR-K reactor.

Photon strength functions, level densities, and isomeric ratio in Er168 from the radiative neutron capture measured at the DANCE facility

Background: The statistical approach is usually applied for the description of electromagnetic decay of the nucleus with the exception of the lowest excitation energies as well as for the calculation of the interaction of photons with nuclei, in particular the reaction cross sections. This concept employs nuclear level density (NLD) and photon strength functions (PSFs).Purpose: While PSFs and NLD of some well-deformed rare-earth nuclei were measured by several methods, sometimes with conflicting results, the PSFs of $^{168}\mathrm{Er}$ were addressed only by $(\ensuremath{\gamma},{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{\ensuremath{'}})$ experiments. On the other hand, the low-lying levels of $^{168}\mathrm{Er}$ are well studied, including the isomeric state at 1094 keV, which enables various tests of the statistical approach.Methods: The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays following radiative neutron capture on a $^{167}\mathrm{Er}$ sample were measured with the highly segmented $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray calorimeter Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energy spectra for different multiplicities (multistep cascade, or MSC, spectra) were gathered for many $s$-wave resonances of both possible spins. Moreover, we were able to detect the decay of the short-lived isomer and deduce the isomeric ratio for a few resonances.Results: Analysis of the MSC spectra within the statistical model enabled us to draw conclusions about dipole PSFs, in particular on the properties of the scissors mode, and NLD. The spectra can be well reproduced with phenomenological PSFs models but not with any of several models based on quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) calculations with different interactions. We showed that nonstatistical effects in feeding of the isomeric state play a role up to excitation energies of at least about 2 MeV.Conclusions: Deduced parameters of the scissors mode were found to be similar to those of neighbor well-deformed even-even Gd and Dy nuclei. Models like that of Kadmenskij, Markushev, and Furman (KMF) or like the modified generalized Lorentzian (MGLO) model provide a good description of experimental spectra. In contrast to several previous analyses of well-deformed rare-earth isotopes, we were able to match the experimental isomeric ratio with statistical model simulations.

ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ УДЕЛЬНОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ 177Lu И СОПУТСТВУЮЩИХ РАДИОНУКЛИДНЫХ ПРИМЕСЕЙ

Radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements (REE) are increasingly used in nuclear medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes as they have effective nuclear physical properties. Seventeen elements of the secondary subgroup of group III of the periodic table of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev with atomic numbers 21, 39, 57, 58-71: scandium, yttrium, lanthanum and 14 lanthanides make up rare earth elements. Every year more and more attention is paid to the radioactive isotope of lutetium 177Lu, the most promising for use in therapeutic agents of a new generation, including for cell therapy of oncological diseases. The advantages of 177Lu are determined by its nuclear characteristics: the optimal depth of penetration into human tissues during radiotherapy of small tumors and low radiation load on healthy organs are provided due to the maximum energy of beta radiation of 496 keV, the presence of low-energy gamma radiation of 113 keV allows monitoring the treatment process, the half-life of 6.71 days makes it possible to transport drugs from 177Lu to significant distances.

Equilibrium fractionation of REE isotopes in nature: Insights from NRIXS and DFT+U studies of Eu and Dy phonon density of states

Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are commonly utilized in Earth and environmental sciences to study a variety of geological processes due to their distinct patterns and radioactive-radiogenic decay systems (147Sm-143Nd, 146Sm-142Nd, 138La-138Ce). Advances in analytical techniques now enable the use of REE stable isotopic fractionations to clarify lingering ambiguities in REE systematics. In this study, we employed Nuclear Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering (NRIXS) to study the phonon density of states of 151Eu and 161Dy in several pure compounds, as well as in synthetic basalt and andesite glasses, and rhyolite glasses produced under various redox conditions, to determine equilibrium isotopic fractionation factors for the REEs. We additionally utilized Density Functional Theory with a Hubbard U correction (DFT+U) to calculate these factors. Our findings indicate that the directionally averaged mean force constant of Dy3+ is ∼270 N/m across various compounds, while those of Eu2+ and Eu3+ are ∼83 and 214 N/m, respectively, in geologically relevant glasses and other pure compounds. These force constants were then used to estimate those of all REEs using scaling arguments. The results suggest that equilibrium isotopic fractionation should be limited for REEs in igneous rocks, allowing for the interpretation of REE isotopic fractionation in these rocks and minerals as a result of kinetic effects. This could facilitate understanding the role of diffusion in igneous rocks and ore formation. Additionally, our results imply that significant Eu isotopic fractionation could exist in hydrothermal fluids, which could aid in understanding the formation of ore deposits and REE cycling in the oceans.

Radiolabeling and in vivo evaluation of lanmodulin with biomedically relevant lanthanide isotopes.

Short-lived, radioactive lanthanides comprise an emerging class of radioisotopes attractive for biomedical imaging and therapy applications. To deliver such isotopes to target tissues, they must be appended to entities that target antigens overexpressed on the target cell's surface. However, the thermally sensitive nature of biomolecule-derived targeting vectors requires the incorporation of these isotopes without the use of denaturing temperatures or extreme pH conditions; chelating systems that can capture large radioisotopes under mild conditions are therefore highly desirable. Herein, we demonstrate the successful radiolabeling of the lanthanide-binding protein, lanmodulin (LanM), with medicinally relevant radioisotopes: 177Lu, 132/135La and 89Zr. Radiolabeling of the endogenous metal-binding sites of LanM, as well exogenous labeling of a protein-appended chelator, was successfully conducted at 25 °C and pH 7 with radiochemical yields ranging from 20-82%. The corresponding radiolabeled constructs possess good formulation stability in pH 7 MOPS buffer over 24 hours (>98%) in the presence of 2 equivalents of natLa carrier. In vivo experiments with [177Lu]-LanM, [132/135La]-LanM, and a prostate cancer targeting-vector linked conjugate, [132/135La]-LanM-PSMA, reveal that endogenously labeled constructs produce bone uptake in vivo. Exogenous, chelator-tag mediated radiolabeling to produce [89Zr]-DFO-LanM enables further study of the protein's in vivo behavior, demonstrating low bone and liver uptake, and renal clearance of the protein itself. While these results indicate that additional stabilization of LanM is required, this study establishes precedence for the radiochemical labeling of LanM with medically relevant lanthanide radioisotopes.

Study of the 176Hf(n,2n)175Hf cross section at 18.9 MeV

Neutron nuclear reactions can provide significant information in the field of nuclear physics and applications. Hafnium (Hf) is one of the rare-earth isotopes with a relative large neutron total cross-section in the thermal neutron energy region and neutron induced reactions in reactor materials could lead to the production of long-lived isomeric states of Hf isotopes. Thus, the knowledge of neutron cross-sections on Hf isotopes is of great importance for basic research in Nuclear Physics as well as for applications concerning the interaction of neutrons with matter. In this study measurements of experimental cross section for the 176Hf(n,2n)175Hf and 180Hf(n,n΄γ)180mHf reactions were carried out, using the activation technique. The neutron beam energy at 18.9 MeV was produced via the 3H(d,n)4He reaction at the 5.5 MeV Tandem Van de Graaf accelerator laboratory of NCSR “Demokritos”. A thin metallic foil of natural Hf was used, while for the determination of the neutron flux at the target position a reference foil of Al was placed at the back of the Hf target. The irradiation was continuous for 28 hours leading to a total neutron fluence of 1010 n/cm2 and a BF3 detector was used for monitoring the neutron flux during the irradiation. After the end of irradiation, the activity of the Hf target and the Al foil were measured off-line by two HPGe detectors. Both detector efficiencies were obtained using a calibrated 152Eu source, placed in the same distance as the target and the reference foil. The 176Hf(n,2n)175Hf reaction has been corrected from the contribution of 177Hf(n,3n)175Hf and the 174Hf(n,γ)175Hf reactions and the 180Hf(n,n΄γ)180mHf reaction from the 179Hf(n,γ)180mHf. Theoretical calculations of the 174Hf(n,2n)175Hf, 176Hf(n,2n)175Hf and 180Hf(n,n΄γ)180mHf reaction cross-sections have also been performed using the nuclear statistical code “EMPIRE 3.2.3” and they have been compared with the data.

Cross section empirical formulation for (n, 2n) nuclear reactions on natural isotopes from Z= 21 to Z= 79 for neutron energy range, 8–20 MeV

Neutron induced reactions with different target materials and isotopes are very important for completion of nuclear data base as well as for many applications. Since the experimental determinations of the reaction cross sections for such reactions are not always available, attempts were made to introduce empirical or semi empirical formulae. In this work, new empirical formulation for (n, 2n) nuclear reactions on natural isotopes for neutron energies range 8–20 MeV, based on some published experimental works. The deuced formulae are then used to calculate the excitation functions for the (n,2n) on target isotopes having atomic numbers in the range 21–79. The cross section values for many reactions, having previously measured values, are determined and inter-comparison with the experimental and the TENDL-2019 database values are given using some statistical error parameters. Special attention was made to some Lanthanide isotopes. The results showed satisfied predictions in most cases.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN: REACTOR ISOTOPES OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FOR THERAPY

Radioactive isotopes of rare earth elements have effective nuclear-physical properties and are promising for the development of new therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. Rare earth elements (REE) include 17 elements of the secondary subgroup of group III of the periodic table of chemical elements of D.I. Mendeleev with atomic numbers 21, 39, 57, 58–71: scandium, yttrium, lanthanum and 14 lanthanides. Some radioactive isotopes of these elements are already used in medicine, as a radioactive component of approved medicines, for example, the isotopes of 153Sm and 177Lu, and for some the possibility of their use in medicine is only being studied. Thus, the isotope scandium – 47Sc is being studied as a potential radioisotope for cancer diagnosis, holmium – 166Ho as an isotope for radiosynovectomy and brachytherapy, praseodymium – 142Pr is promising for brachytherapy. The ability of rare earth elements to form chemical bonds with organic molecules, including peptides of natural and synthetic origin, is the basis for the development of new drugs for targeted therapy of breast and prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, disseminated lung cancer and other types of diseases. To determine the list of the most promising for irradiation at the rector of the WWR-K REE in order to develop radioactive isotopes, an assessment of the ways of developing radioactive isotopes and an analysis of their nuclear physical characteristics according to literature data was carried out. Isotopes such as: 166Ho, 165Dy, 90Y, 175Yb, 153Sm, 177Lu, 147Nd, 170Tm, 159Gd and 141Ce can be used in the treatment of oncological diseases. This research work makes it possible to evaluate the possibility of obtaining REE radioisotopes by reaction (n, γ) at the WWR-K reactor, and reflects the prospects for using these isotopes in the development of new-generation radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of oncological diseases.

Searching for the origin of the rare-earth peak with precision mass measurements across Ce–Eu isotopic chains

A nuclear mass survey of rare-earth isotopes has been conducted with the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer using the most neutron-rich nuclei thus far extracted from the CARIBU facility. We present a collection of 12 nuclear masses determined with a precision of $\ensuremath{\le}10$ keV/$c{}^{2}$ for $Z=58--63$ nuclei near $N=100$. Independently, a detailed study exploring the role of nuclear masses in the formation of the $r$-process rare-earth abundance peak has been performed. Employing a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique, mass predictions of lanthanide isotopes have been made which uniquely reproduce the observed solar abundances near $A=164$ under three distinct astrophysical outflow conditions. We demonstrate that the mass surface trends thus far mapped out by our measurements are most consistent with MCMC mass predictions given an $r$ process that forms the rare-earth peak during an extended $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})\ensuremath{\rightleftarrows}(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ equilibrium.

Dysprosium enrichment and collection using AVLIS in Brazil: Preliminary results

Rare Earth elements (RE) play an important role in the high-tech industry. Displays, fine electronic devices, sensors, optoelectronics, and many other fields rely on the use of these elements to deliver the technology we depend on. The possibility of improving the capacity of all these applications is attractive and there are a few ways to achieve that, one of them is to purify the REs to get only one isotope. Given that, one of the few techniques able to separate RE isotopes is the Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) which is the technique used in the Brazilian facility for isotope separation via laser. In this work we are going to show the latest results on the Brazilian AVLIS applied to enrich dysprosium. As a preliminary result, it was observed an enrichment by means of a mass spectrometer coupled to the experimental setup and a thin film was collected with an enrichment factor of 1.37 (163Dy).

Evolution of octupole deformation and collectivity in neutron-rich lanthanides

The onset of octupole deformation and its impact on related spectroscopic properties is studied in even-even neutron-rich lanthanide isotopes Xe, Ba, Ce, and Nd with neutron number $86\leqslant N\leqslant 94$. Microscopic input comes from the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation with constrains on the axially symmetric quadrupole and octupole operators using the Gogny-D1M interaction. At the mean-field level, reflection asymmetric ground states are predicted for isotopes with neutron number around $N=88$. Spectroscopic properties are studied by diagonalizing the interacting boson model Hamiltonian, with the parameters obtained via the mapping of the mean-field potential energy surface onto the expectation value of the Hamiltonian in the $s$, $d$, and $f$ boson condensate state. The results obtained for low-energy positive- and negative-parity excitation spectra as well as the electric dipole, quadrupole, and octupole transition probabilities indicate the onset of pronounced octupolarity for $Z\approx 56$ and $N\approx 88$ nuclei.

Separation of Lanthanide Isotopes from Mixed Fission Product Samples

The measurement of radioactive fission products from nuclear events has important implications for nuclear data production, environmental monitoring, and nuclear forensics. In a previous paper, the authors reported the optimization of an intra-group lanthanide separation using LN extraction resin from Eichrom Technologies®, Inc. and a nitric acid gradient. In this work, the method was demonstrated for the separation and quantification of multiple short-lived fission product lanthanide isotopes from a fission product sample produced from the thermal irradiation of highly enriched uranium. The separations were performed in parallel in quadruplicate with reproducible results and high decontamination factors for 153Sm, 156Eu, and 161Tb. Based on the results obtained here, the fission yields for 144Ce, 153Sm, 156Eu, and 161Tb are consistent with published fission yields. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the separations for the intended application of short-lived lanthanide fission product analysis requiring high decontamination factors.

Exploring lanthanide separations using Eichrom’s Ln Resin and low-pressure liquid chromatography

Analytical methods for separating individual lanthanide elements from each other are needed to support various scientific fields. This work reports a systematic evaluation of analytical separations using Eichrom Industries Ln resin and simple peristaltic pump fed low-pressure chromatography columns. Systematic studies of isocratic elutions over a range of acid concentrations (0.10 to 0.25 M HNO3) and column lengths (15 to 45 cm) show that with careful selection of the separation conditions baseline separation of the majority of the lanthanide elements can be achieved, with the exception Nd, Pr, Pm and Ce which co-elute at low acid concentrations. The employment of a novel Ce3+/Ce4+ oxidation–reduction approach using NaBrO3 and ascorbic acid enables isolation of Ce, however baseline separation of Nd, Pr and Pm could not be accomplished using Ln resin, simple acids, and low-pressure chromatography. A method for rapid separation and preconcentration of fission product lanthanides is also reported based upon the optimized conditions identified in this work; the separation approach enables isolation of lanthanide isotopes in high purity and chemical yield, with final elution fraction volumes of 4 mLs

A note on Jacobi-type transitions in finite nuclei

The Jacobi-type transitions (JTTs) in nuclei and their connections with excite-state quantum phase transitions (ESQPTs) have been investigated within the framework of the interacting boson model (IBM) by both the semiclassical analysis and quantal calculations. The results indicate that the quadrupole deformation of a transitional system may change from γ rigid to γ soft as the angular momentum increases. This change may in turn drive the JTTs to occur around the saddle point of the corresponding classical potential, where the precursors of ESQPT can be also identified even for a realistic boson number. A further comparison between the experimental data and the model predictions confirms that the JTT phenomena may widely occur in the rare-earth isotopes associated with the 1st-order quantum phase transitions.

Exploring the mass surface near the rare-earth abundance peak via precision mass measurements at JYFLTRAP

The JYFLTRAP double Penning trap at the Ion Guide Isotope Separator On-Line facility has been used to measure the atomic masses of 13 neutron-rich rare-earth isotopes. Eight of the nuclides, $^{161}\mathrm{Pm}, ^{163}\mathrm{Sm}, ^{164,165}\mathrm{Eu}, ^{167}\mathrm{Gd}$, and $^{165,167,168}\mathrm{Tb}$, were measured for the first time. The systematics of the mass surface has been studied via one- and two-neutron separation energies as well as neutron pairing-gap and shell-gap energies. The proton-neutron pairing strength has also been investigated. The impact of the new mass values on the astrophysical rapid neutron capture process has been studied. The calculated abundance distribution results in a better agreement with the solar abundance pattern near the top of the rare-earth abundance peak at around $A\ensuremath{\approx}165$.

Adsorption of 141Ce(III), 160Tb(III), and 169Yb(III) on the Synthesized Inorganic Ion Exchanger, Zirconium Titanium Phosphate

Samples of zirconium titanium phosphate inorganic ion exchangers with different Zr : Ti molar ratios were synthesized. The samples were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and pore size analysis. The adsorption behavior of lanthanide isotopes 141Ce(III), 160Tb(III), and 169Yb(III) was studied in batch experiments. The influence of the V/m ratio (mL g–1), solution pH, contact time, particle size, metal ion concentration, and temperature on the adsorption kinetics was studied. The changes in the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were calculated. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics were analyzed using different models. The adsorption was found to follow the Langmuir isotherm better than the Freundlich isotherm. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fits the adsorption data.

Quantitative Measurement of Cell-Nanoparticle Interactions Using Mass Cytometry.

Mass cytometry is a technique that uses inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify the isotopic composition of cells in suspension. Traditionally it has been used in conjunction with antibodies labeled with stable lanthanide isotopes to investigate cellular heterogeneity. Here we describe its use to quantify uptake of metal nanoparticles by cells in suspension.