Quantitative analysis of gallstones using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Gallbladder stones pose a significant health concern.
• Accurate stone categorization is crucial for effective treatment.
• Elemental analysis can provide insights into gallstone formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for categorizing gallbladder stones.
• To analyze the major and minor elemental constituents of different gallstone types.
• To investigate the spatial distribution of elements within gallstones.

Main Methods:

• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to record spectra (200-900 nm).
• A spectrophotometric method was used for stone classification.
• Calibration-free LIBS and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) were used for quantitative elemental analysis.
• LIBS was used to analyze elemental variations across gallstone cross-sections.

Main Results:

• Calcium was identified as the major element in all analyzed gallbladder stones.
• LIBS provided quantitative analysis of metal elements, comparable to ICP-AES.
• Elemental composition varied from the center to the surface of the gallstones.

Conclusions:

• LIBS is a viable technique for categorizing gallbladder stones based on elemental composition.
• Elemental analysis may elucidate the role of various metals in gallstone formation.
• Understanding elemental distribution can inform future research on gallstone pathogenesis.