Analysis of black carbon in environmental and biological media: Recent progresses and challenges

An Attempt to Detect Ambient Black Carbon in the Human Brain Using Mass Spectrometry Imaging

“…This is a special ability of LDI-MS that enables the direct analysis of black carbon in biological samples. 23,26 Then, we took the duramater tissue digestion solution from Patient No. 1 as a dilution solvent (in order to maintain the consistency of matrix) to prepare a series of standard working solutions of ECB, which was used to establish the calibration curve for black carbon quantification in brain tissues (Figure S2 and Table S2; see the Experimental Section in the SI for details).…”

“…In fact, the signals of organic species could be greatly suppressed by biological matrices in LDI-MS; however, black carbon could maintain its signals in biological matrices. − Thus, the presence of an organic layer would not prevent black carbon detection. This is a special ability of LDI-MS that enables the direct analysis of black carbon in biological samples. , …”

“…These sample types covered a number of areas of the brain that could be ethically collected in clinical surgery. LDI-MS imaging has been demonstrated to be a useful tool in investigation of black carbon in various environmental and biological sample tissues, − because black carbon can effectively absorb the laser energy and generate a series of characteristic carbon cluster peaks in a low mass range under the laser excitation. , Moreover, the advantages of LDI-MS imaging including minimal sample preparation, label free, high sensitivity, and specificity enable the direct investigation of the distribution of black carbon in biological tissues. − Therefore, we collected 40 samples from 32 brain tumor patients recruited in Beijing Tiantan Hospital of Capital Medical University (ages 27 to 74 y; see Tables S1) and used LDI-MS imaging to sensitively identify and detect black carbon in human brain tissues. Notably, to comprehensively consider all possible exposure pathways of UFPs to the human brain (e.g., via blood-brain barrier, olfactory nerve, etc.…”

Two-photon excitation as a selective tool to characterize black carbon nanoparticles in the environment

“…5 However, the dependence on the acquisition/extraction of samples and the direct correlation with the aromatic molecular composition of BC by the techniques makes identification in the aqueous marine environment challenging, making identification unfeasible in animals and microorganisms. 8 New techniques in the optical sensing field can be utilized to directly identify the black carbon-based pollution particles and their impact on the environment and climate rise. The optical characterization of the material depends on precisely determining properties such as light absorption and scattering coefficients.…”