Abdelrahman, A.Ornatsky, O.Bandura, D.Baranov, V.Kinach, R.Dai, S.Thickett, S.Tanner, S.Winnik, M.2014-12-172014-12-172010Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 2010; 25(3):260-2680267-94771364-5544http://hdl.handle.net/2440/88257We examine the suitability of metal-containing polystyrene beads for the calibration of a mass cytometer instrument, a single particle analyser based on an inductively coupled plasma ion source and a time of flight mass spectrometer. These metal-containing beads are also verified for their use as internal standards for this instrument. These beads were synthesized by multiple-stage dispersion polymerization with acrylic acid as a comonomer. Acrylic acid acts as a ligand to anchor the metal ions within the interior of the beads. Mass cytometry enabled the bead-by-bead measurement of the metal-content and determination of the metal-content distribution. Beads synthesized by dispersion polymerization that involved three stages were shown to have narrower bead-to-bead variation in their lanthanide content than beads synthesized by 2-stage dispersion polymerization. The beads exhibited insignificant release of their lanthanide content to aqueous solutions of different pHs over a period of six months. When mixed with KG1a or U937 cell lines, metal-containing polymer beads were shown not to affect the mass cytometry response to the metal content of element-tagged antibodies specifically attached to these cells.en©The Royal Society of Chemistry 2010Journal article003000722110.1039/b921770c0002749616000022-s2.0-7764920974274354