Imaging of cisplatin in single cancer cell and visualizing its mechanism of action by FIB-TOF-SIMS

Abstract

We examined imaging of cisplatin in single cancer cell and visualization of mechanism of action by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). This apparatus has a very high resolution about 40 nm, which was developed ourselves. High intensity signals for PtCN were detected by TOF-SIMS from the cultured cells, which were originated in cisplatin. This PtCN ion signal was detected from not only the surface of cell but also the intracellular region. Cisplatin is structure where chlorine is replaced with water when combine with the cell nucleus. The results show selectively combine with nucleus. We achieved visualization of distribution of cisplatin intracellular nucleus by TOF-SIMS.