Single-Cell Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Mass Spectrometry for the Detection of Metabolites at Cellular and Sub-cellular Levels

摘要

In summary, we have demonstrated a probe ESI-MS method for single cell analysis. It allowed for direct sampling in live cells. The enrichment feature of the probe and direct desorption/ionization of metabolites from the SPME probe greatly improved the sensitivity. Selective detection of the enriched metabolites on the probe reduced the interference of unwanted species and simplified the spectra. We expected that PESI-MS might be a candidate in the future studies of single cell "omics".