Online Seminar on Single Cell Metabolomics

Thursday, 28 March 2024; 16:00 – 17:30
Online Benelux Seminar "Single Cell Metabolomics"
This Seminar is organised by  Ahmed Ali, LACDR, Leiden University. 


16.05- 16.20
Ahmed Ali, LACDR, Leiden University. 
"Single cell metabolomics state of the art and current challenges"


16.20- 16-45
Laura Ann Hetzel, LACDR, Leiden University
"Challenge accepted: Fighting back against the limitations of single cell metabolmics"

“There are an estimated 200 cell types in the human body, and since their behavior can change as a result of interactions with each other and the environment, it is no wonder that as scientists, we want to know more and more about the individual cells. Single cell analysis has come a long way since its emergence, however, as technology improves and biological understanding flourishes, we encounter new limitations in single cell metabolomics. Here, we discuss how we are approaching some of the challenges we encounter in three dimensional cell models and the data generated with single cell mass spectrometry, as well as future prospects for the field.”

17:00-17.25

Congrou Zhang, LACDR, Leiden University

"Live single cell mass spectrometry integration with Raman spectroscopy for drug screening"

“Cells are heterogeneous in their response to drugs. Thus, it is essential to study the heterogeneity in drug discovery process. Live single cell mass spectrometry (LSC-MS) is a novel strong tool for monitoring the heterogeneous behavior of drug uptake and cellular response with high sensitivity and selectivity, however it is a destructive and low-throughout method. Raman spectroscopy is an non-invasiveness and high-throughput method for profiling molecular vibration and providing rich information reflecting the metabolism of the cell. In this study we integrated Raman spectroscopy with LSC-MS, and measured single cells treated by the drug using both techniques. The intercellular abundance of tamoxifen, it’s metabolites 4-Hydroxytamoxifen and N-Desmethyltamoxifen could be measured using our LSC-MS method. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy could differentiate between treated and untreated cells. Finally, the potential correlations between LSC-MS and Raman spectroscopy data were explored.”


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