3D Imaging of Nanoparticle Distribution in Biological Tissue by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine and Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science and Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nanomaterials offer revolutionary potential in medical applications like diagnostics and drug delivery.
• Understanding nanomaterial behavior in biological tissues is crucial for assessing efficacy and toxicity.
• Current imaging techniques often lack the scale or resolution for whole-organ analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the first 3D label-free nanoparticle imaging technique at the entire-organ scale.
• To demonstrate the capability of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for biological imaging.
• To enable quantitative elemental analysis of nanomaterials within complex biological structures.

Main Methods:

• Utilized laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for elemental analysis.
• Employed two complementary approaches: volume reconstruction of sliced organs and in-depth analysis.
• Ensured compatibility with optical microscopy for detailed visualization.

Main Results:

• Achieved 3D elemental imaging of nanoparticles within entire organs.
• Demonstrated quantitative imaging of both endogenous and exogenous elements.
• Validated the speed, ease of use, and compatibility of the LIBS technique.

Conclusions:

• This proof-of-concept study establishes a novel method for whole-organ nanoparticle imaging.
• The developed LIBS-based approach facilitates quantitative elemental mapping in biological tissues.
• Opens new avenues for research in nanomedicine, toxicology, and diagnostics.