Micro x-ray fluorescence elemental analysis of spheroid cultures of human neuroblastoma cells

Publication date: Available online 27 February 2019Source: Radiation Physics and ChemistryAuthor(s): G.C. Ferreira, D.F. Oliveira, R.G. Leitão, J.E.P. Rosa, C. Palmero, E.G. Oliveira-Barros, M.A. Oliveira, L.E. Nasciutti, R.T. Lopes, M.J. AnjosAbstractNeuroblastoma (NB) is a malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system that almost exclusively occurs during infancy and early childhood. NB is responsible for 8 to 10% of all childhood cancers. More than 50% of the diagnosed cases have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Trace elements are extremely important in biological processes, including reactions involving metabolic enzymes and gene expression. Micro X-ray fluorescence (µXRF) is an important tool since it is a non-destructive technique for the analysis of sample composition. Elemental distributions in spheroids of human neuroblastoma cells were investigated using a commercial μXRF system, which detected seven elements: P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Zn. Mapping by µXRF was performed to investigate the spatial distribution of all detected elements. Results of µXRF revealed a non-uniform distribution of elements in all the spheroids analyzed. The results of this work can serve as a baseline for studies investigating the role of trace elements in NB.
Source: Radiation Physics and Chemistry - Category: Physics Source Type: research