Out of the lab and into the environment: the evolution of single particle ICP-MS over the past decade

The development and application of engineered nanomaterials has required pushing the boundaries of analytical instrumentation in order to detect, quantify and characterize the properties and behaviors of materials at the nanoscale. One technique, single particle ICP-MS, has stood apart for its ability to characterize and quantify inorganic nanomaterials at low concentrations and in complex environmental and biological media. For the past 20 years, this technique has matured significantly, with an ever-expanding scope of application. Where initially it was capable of analyzing precious metal nanoparticles in relatively pristine solutions, now it can be used to characterize multiple different NP populations of varying elemental and isotopic compositions. The types of materials analyzed now extend beyond traditional metallic NPs, with varied materials such as nanominerals, carbon nanotubes, biological cells, and microplastics. In this perspective, we examine the key developments in the past decade of spICP-MS and aim to provide a vision for what this field may look like 10 years from now. The study of nanoparticles, both natural and engineered, will continue to play a vital role in our understanding of climate change, anthropogenic impact, and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and contaminants in a rapidly changing environment.