Abstract: A method captures cellular components from a single cell and performs mass spectrometry on the components. The method includes inserting a nanospray ionization capillary tip into a specific region of the cell under observation with a microscope. The nanospray ionization capillary tip can include a filament in the interior. The method further includes capturing the cellular components of the specific region of the cell into the opening of the nanospray ionization capillary tip and keeping the components at the nanospray ionization capillary tip, supplying an ionization supporting solvent from a back-end of the nanospray ionization capillary tip, applying an electric field between a sample inlet of a mass spectrometer and the nanospray ionization capillary tip, whereby nanospray ionization to the cellular components is implemented, and performing the mass spectrometry on the cellular components captured at the nanospray ionization capillary tip.

Abstract: A method captures cellular components from a single cell and performs mass spectrometry on the components. The method includes inserting a nanospray ionization capillary tip into a specific region of the cell under observation with a microscope. The nanospray ionization capillary tip can include a filament in the interior. The method further includes capturing the cellular components of the specific region of the cell into the opening of the nanospray ionization capillary tip and keeping the components at the nanospray ionization capillary tip, supplying an ionization supporting solvent from a back-end of the nanospray ionization capillary tip, applying an electric field between a sample inlet of a mass spectrometer and the nanospray ionization capillary tip, whereby nanospray ionization to the cellular components is implemented, and performing the mass spectrometry on the cellular components captured at the nanospray ionization capillary tip.

Abstract: The invention provide the method to enable the molecular detections of cellular fluid of at least a single cell easily and rapidly and clarify the dynamics of life phenomena and molecular mechanisms very rapidly by conducting simultaneous observations of cellular morphological dynamism. At the same time, it provides the method of exploring active molecules. Even in case that the target is a single cell, the cellular fluid is directly sucked by the capillary tip and the fluid is subjected to the analysis directly. By performing this method under the observation of the cell with image-magnifying scopes, such as a microscope, the cellular fluid is sucked and captured by the nanospray ionization capillary tip even if the target is a single cell and the trapped sample is subjected to the mass spectrometer by nano-spraying the sample solution directly after addition of the ionization supporting solvent into the tip, and then the molecular components in the cellular fluid is detected.