Measurements of Carbon-14 With Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is the gold standard for sensitive ¹⁴C quantitation in biological samples.
• AMS has been crucial for low-dose human health studies but faces limitations due to high costs and specialized personnel.
• There is a need for alternative, more accessible methods for ¹⁴C quantification in biomedical research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and demonstrate the feasibility of Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) for quantifying ¹⁴C.
• To present CRDS as a potential supplementary or alternative technology to AMS for biomedical applications.
• To establish a starting point for developing CRDS systems with biologically relevant sensitivities.

Main Methods:

• Development of an initial CRDS prototype spectrometer.
• Utilized a non-ideal wavelength laser and suboptimal experimental conditions for proof-of-principle testing.
• Quantification of ¹⁴C in milligram-sized, ¹⁴C-elevated biological samples.

Main Results:

• Achieved a precision of 3.5-modern, 1-σ for ¹⁴C detection in tested samples.
• Demonstrated the fundamental principle of using CRDS for ¹⁴C quantification.
• Identified areas for improvement in the prototype for future development.

Conclusions:

• CRDS is a viable technique for quantifying ¹⁴C in biological samples.
• This technology has the potential to overcome the accessibility limitations of AMS.
• Further development of CRDS can lead to instruments capable of meeting the sensitivity requirements of biomedical research.