Role of Mass Spectrometry in the Development and Medicinal Implementation of Metal-based Nanoparticles

A new application of mass-spectrometric methods to the identification, characterization, and analysis of nanomaterials developed or used in medicine for diagnostics, treatment, and (or) target-oriented drug delivery is considered. The main advantage of mass spectrometry (MS) in this exponentially developed area is the possibility of obtaining specific elemental and molecular information on the composition, structure, chemical state, and concentration of nanoparticles based on metals and their compounds. In combination with different separation techniques, MS can be used for the monitoring of formation and identification of particle conjugates with both target and transport biomolecules. Attention is focused on inductively coupled plasma MS and its versions suitable for the material analysis of metal particles, including multipurpose (or theranostic(1)) particles.