Kidney stone, by near-ambient pressure XPS

Abstract

Near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) is a less traditional form of XPS that allows samples to be analyzed at relatively high pressures, i.e., greater than 2500 Pa. With NAP-XPS, XPS can be used to probe moderately volatile liquids, biological samples, porous materials, and/or polymeric materials that outgas significantly. In this submission, we show O 1s, C 1s, and Ca 2p narrow scans and a survey NAP-XPS spectrum from a human urolith, i.e., a kidney stone, which is a biomaterial that could not be analyzed at moderate pressures by conventional approaches.

Peculiar opportunities given by XPS spectroscopy for the clinician

“…Several papers [112,113] have underlined the different instrumentation and methodology advances that have enhanced the ability to study organic and biological systems through XPS spectroscopy. Among the biological systems and biomaterials which can be investigated through XPS spectroscopy, we can quote bacteria [114,115], Human cells [116,117], dental implants [118][119][120], intraocular lens [121,122] or physiological as well as pathological calcifications such as (not only human ones) [123][124][125], teeth [126][127][128], vascular calcifications [13,129] or kidney stones [130].…”

Chemical Studies of Multicomponent Kidney Stones Using the Modern Advanced Research Methods

“…Research on kidney stones can be performed using many different techniques, from simple observations using stereoscopic microscopy to complex techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM–EDS) and many others. The literature reports various methods, among which the most common are: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [ 21 ], X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which are very often regarded as relevant methods to make the phase analysis of this type of materials [ 22 , 23 ] and finally, the XPS photoelectron spectroscopy, which is one of the latest methods of analysing kidney stones, enabling the determination of the thorough elemental composition and determination of the characteristic chemical bonds present in a given compound [ 24 ]. There are a few reports in the literature on the use of the Rietveld method for the quantitative phase analysis and microstructural characterization of phases to identify kidney stones [ 25 ].…”