ICP-MS and trace element analysis as tools for better understanding medical conditions

Element constitution and distribution in tissues and body fluids have increasingly become key pieces of information in life sciences and medicine, and trace elements may be successfully used as disease biomarkers. Here, we review the most recent advances in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the related state-of-the-art instrumentation and methods (e.g. single-particle and single- cell determination capabilities) used to expand the application of trace element information to the study of diseases. Advanced statistical tools and machine learning used for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating different diseases has highlighted the importance of trace elements in clinical research. In this manuscript, we review recently published studies involving trace element analysis and machine learning applied to better understanding clinical conditions and pathologies, and discuss some perspectives for this field. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.