Determination of Cadmium in Biological Samples: An Update from 2006 to 2011

Cadmium has attracted global research interest due to its toxicity, metallomics, and contents in biological samples. From a toxicological and biological point of view, analytical methods for determination of Cd in biological samples are of key importance to subsequent studies. In 2006 we presented a comprehensive review on determination of Cd in biological samples. Since publication of the last review, great progress has been made in this area; for instance, in vivo intracellular imaging of Cd2+, evaluation of in vivo cytoxicity of Cd-based semiconductor quantum dots, and new research progress in Cd-related metallomics. Accordingly, in this review we further summarize the research progress related to Cd determination in biological samples, with a total of 224 references in the period 2006 to 2011. The main contents of this review include toxicity of Cd, biological sample types and sample pretreatment strategies, preconcentration of Cd from biological samples, analytical methods for Cd determination, Cd speciation, bio-imaging of Cd in living cells, and chemical evaluation of the toxicity of Cd-containing quantum dots in biological tissues.