Due to the improvements in detection sensitivity, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has matured to be an exceptional tool for the elemental analysis of small objects. The characterisation of individual metallic nanoparticles by so-called single particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) has paved the way for the analysis of smallest biological systems like individual cells. Developments in single cell ICP-MS (SC-ICP-MS) have increased significantly with essential efforts in the introduction of cell suspensions into the ionisation source by developing nebulizer/spray chamber systems that allow maximum transport efficiencies. These developments have been accompanied with the commercial launches of ICP-MS instruments for better control of spectral interferences and time-of-flight instruments with improved sensitivity.

In this review, special emphasis was put on summarizing the recent developments in sample introduction systems for liquid cell suspensions. Where available, analytical figures of merit will be compared for the different approaches as well as the most relevant applications of SC-ICP-MS.

由于检测灵敏度的提高，电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）已经成熟，已成为对小物体进行元素分析的出色工具。通过所谓的单颗粒ICP-MS（SP-ICP-MS）表征单个金属纳米颗粒，为分析最小的生物系统（如单个细胞）铺平了道路。单细胞ICP-MS（SC-ICP-MS）的开发已经显着增加，这是通过开发允许最大运输效率的雾化器/喷雾室系统将细胞悬浮液引入电离源的重要努力。这些发展伴随着ICP-MS仪器的商业推出，以更好地控制光谱干扰，以及提高了灵敏度的飞行时间仪器。

在这篇综述中，特别强调总结了用于液体细胞悬液的样品引入系统的最新发展。如果适用，将比较不同方法以及SC-ICP-MS最相关应用的分析品质因数。