Biological SIMS

In SIMS, the chemical environment has a dramatic influence on the sputtering and/or the ionization yields of the species of interest. For instance, in dynamic SIMS, elements like oxygen and cesium are known to enhance the yields of positive and negative atomic ions of other elements by several orders of magnitude. Matrix effects are also particularly important in organic and biological SIMS and their beneficial effects were recognized very early on. Cooks and coworkers reported remarkable... 

Many reviews have been produced on the subject of mass spectrometry and imaging, while two excellent books on SIMS are from Benninghoven [112] and Vickerman [119]. Reviews are also available on SIMS [120-125], imaging SIMS [126-130], biological SIMS [131-134], and SIMS of polymers [135]. Comparisons of the various microanalysis techniques using SIMS are also available [136,137]. In the following sections, attention is focused in particular on ToF-SIMS and NanoSIMS techniques. 

SIMS is one of the most powerful surface and microanalytical techniques for materials characterization. It is primarily used in the analysis of semiconductors, as well as for metallurgical, and geological materials. The advent of a growing number of standards for SIMS has gready enhanced the quantitative accuracy and reliability of the technique in these areas. Future development is expected in the area of small spot analysis, implementation of post-sputtering ionization to SIMS (see the articles on SALI and SNMS), and newer areas of application, such as ceramics, polymers, and biological and pharmaceutical materials. 

TOF-SIMS has important potentials in many areas of life science, in fundamental and applied research as well as in product development and control. This holds for the characterization of biological cells and tissues, of sensor and microplate arrays, of drug delivery systems, of implants, etc. In all these areas, relevant surfaces feature a very complex composition and structure, requiring the parallel detect ion of many different molecular species as well as metal and other elements, with high sensitivity and spatial resolution requirements, which are exactly met by TOF-SIMS. 

Taylor-Lovell S, GK Sims, LM Wax (2002) Effects of moisture, temperature, and biological activity on the degradation of isoxaflutole in soil. J Agric Food Chem 50 5626-5633. 

The technique is referred to by several acronyms including LAMMA (Laser Microprobe Mass Analysis), LIMA (Laser Ionisation Mass Analysis), and LIMS (Laser Ionisation Mass Spectrometry). It provides a sensitive elemental and/or molecular detection capability which can be used for materials such as semiconductor devices, integrated optical components, alloys, ceramic composites as well as biological materials. The unique microanalytical capabilities that the technique provides in comparison with SIMS, AES and EPMA are that it provides a rapid, sensitive, elemental survey microanalysis, that it is able to analyse electrically insulating materials and that it has the potential for providing molecular or chemical bonding information from the analytical volume. 

In Chapter 4.7 we have given examples of the application of the technique to both polymers and to silicon implanted with P. In the latter case it appears that NRA has a better reproducibility than SIMS in the determination of ultrashallow dopant profiles. Demortier (2000) also presents examples of applications of NRA to archaeological and biological materials. 

Figure 4.2 shows the complete CBMS II system. The main unit is comprised of three modules, the Biosampler Module, the Sample Introduction Module (SIM), and the Mass Spectrometer Module. The Biosampler Module houses the virtual impactor air particle concentrator and is only needed for the biological agent monitoring mode. The Sample Introduction Module contains the multiport sampling valve with its three input connections ... 

SIMS imaging was theoretically invented in 1949 by Herzog and Viehb of the Vienna University in Austria. The first SIMS device was completed by Liebel and Herzog in 1961 with the support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and was used to analyze metal surfaces. However, it was not suitable for analyzing biological macromolecules because the second electronic ion beam breaks the molecules into atoms. 

Beside numerous applications for biological samples [Belu et al. 2003, Brunelle et al. 2005], studies of organic materials from cultural heritage artefacts have been developing since the beginning of the twenty-first century. In this review we show, through some selected examples, the different aspects and possibilities of ToF-SIMS analyses. 

The different examples presented in this review show the large range of possible applications of ToF-SIMS in the cultural heritage field. We have seen that it can be used for the characterization of different kinds of materials such as polymers, fibres and textiles, painting materials or biological samples, but any other material could be considered. 

Needelman BA, Wander MM, Bollero GA, Boast CW, Sims GK, Bullock DG (1999) Interaction of tillage and soil texture biologically active soil organic matter in Illinois. Soil Sci Soc Am J 63 1326-1334... 

Park, K.S., Sims, R.C., Dupont, R.R., Doucette, W.J., Matthews, J.E. (1990) Fate of PAH compounds in two soil types Influence of volatilization, abiotic loss and biological activity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 9, 187-195. 

More comprehensive information on PAH background levels in various biological and nonbiological compartments is given in Lo and Sandi (1978), Neff (1979,1985), Pucknat (1981), Edwards (1983), Grimmer (1983), and Sims and Overcash (1983). 

Spurr AR. Applications of SIMS in biology andmedicine. Scanning 1980 3 97-109. 

TOF-SIMS has been employed for the characterization of a wide range of materials, including metallic, salt, organometallic, organic, and polymeric substances, as well as for electronics, catalysts, and forensic samples. The ability to image molecular ions with submicrometer spatial resolution makes TOF-SIMS well suited to analysis of pharmaceuticals and biological cells, as well as for use in biotechnology and molecular electronics. 

Linton, R. W., and Goldsmith, J. G. The role of secondary ion mass spectromehy (SIMS) in biological microanalysis technique comparisons and prospects. Biol. Cell. 1992, 74(1), 147-160. 

Biological. Based on aerobic soil die away test data at 10 to 30 °C, the estimated half-lives ranged from 590 to 650 d (Coover and Sims, 1987). 

---