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Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Approach for Nanoparticle's Mapping and Quantification in Organ Tissue
Published on: June 18, 2014
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Elemental analysis of the thyroid by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
Irfan Ahmed1,2, Rafay Ahmed1, Jingwei Yang1
1Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Biomedical Optics Express
|December 1, 2017
Summary
Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analyzed rat thyroids for essential elements. Iodine levels initially dropped due to excess iodine intake, following the Wolff-Chaikoff effect, then recovered.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biophysics
Background:
- The thyroid gland is crucial for hormone regulation.
- Assessing elemental composition, particularly iodine, is vital for thyroid function.
- Trace elemental analysis in biological tissues presents challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) as a method for analyzing essential elements in the rat thyroid.
- To investigate the impact of varying iodine intake durations on thyroid elemental composition.
- To correlate observed elemental changes with known physiological effects, such as the Wolff-Chaikoff effect.
Main Methods:
- Rats were administered 0.05% iodine water for 0, 6, and 12 days.
- Thyroid tissues were extracted after the administration periods.
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to detect and quantify elemental emissions.
- Specific emission lines for iodine, sodium, calcium, and potassium were identified.
Main Results:
- Pronounced emission lines for iodine, sodium, calcium, and potassium were detected at specific wavelengths.
- Iodine emission was highest in control (0-day) subjects, decreased significantly by day 6, and showed partial recovery by day 12.
- Sodium, calcium, and potassium emissions were also observed, indicating their presence in the thyroid tissue.
Conclusions:
- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a viable and promising technique for the trace elemental analysis of thyroid tissue.
- The observed changes in thyroid iodine levels are consistent with the Wolff-Chaikoff effect, demonstrating the physiological response to excess iodine intake.
- LIBS offers a sensitive method for monitoring elemental dynamics within the thyroid gland.
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