Detection of trace Al in model biological tissue with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), which is an excellent tool for trace elemental analysis, was studied as a method of detecting sub-part-per-10 6 (ppm) concentrations of aluminum in surrogates of human tissue. Tissue was modeled using a 2% agarose gelatin doped with an Al 2 O 3 nanoparticle suspension. A calibration curve created with standard reference samples of known Al concentrations was used to determine the limit of detection, which was less than 1 ppm. Rates of false negative and false positive detection results for a much more realistic sampling methodology were also studied, suggesting that LIBS could be a candidate for the real-time in vivo detection of metal contamination in human soft tissue.

Exploring Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy as a Potential Tool in Mohs Micrography: A Mini Review

“…Such variations can be detected using the LIBS technique even in the parts-per-million (PPM) concentration very easily. Studies have suggested its various uses in biological material evaluation [ 6 , 9 - 12 ]. LIBS' depth profiling ability has been shown in various studies and can be used for in-situ analysis of the samples [ 13 ].…”

Importance of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Biomedical Applications: A Comprehensive Review

“…LIBS technique has also been used to distinguish effectively normal and malignant tumour cells from histological sections 56 and to characterize several types of human malignancies. 29 It has also been used to determine the trace metal concentrations in human hair and skin samples [57][58][59] and to determine the elemental composition of liver, kidney, muscle, and hepatopancreas tissues, 60 and even to perform screening of whole human blood. 32 De Souza et al 61 used LIBS technique to investigate the relative elemental composition of chick myocardium tissue.…”

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS): an overview of recent progress and future potential for biomedical applications

“…Despite these challenges, LIBS has already been used to effectively distinguish normal and malignant tumour cells from histological sections [31] and to characterize several types of human malignancies [32], to determine the trace metal concentrations in human hair and skin samples [33,34,35], to determine the elemental composition of liver, kidney, muscle, and hepatopancreas tissues [36], and even to perform screening of whole human blood [37]. The usefulness of LIBS for characterizing or identifying human soft tissues for disease diagnosis is exemplified by the small amount of sample required and the potential ability to perform a LIBS analysis in vivo by delivering the excitation laser pulse and collecting the plasma emission through a single optical fibre probe [38].…”