Enhancing biomarker detection sensitivity through tag-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy with NELIBS

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a sensitive elemental analysis technique.
• Nanoparticle-enhancement and Tag-LIBS approaches significantly improve LIBS sensitivity and specificity.
• Metal-loaded polymers conjugated to antibodies are utilized in various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the combined effect of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and Tag-LIBS on Europium (Eu) and Ytterbium (Yb) signals.
• To determine the optimal concentrations of silver NPs for enhancing Eu and Yb LIBS signals.
• To understand the differential enhancement mechanisms for Eu and Yb.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).
• Studied the effect of varying silver nanoparticle concentrations on Eu and Yb LIBS signals.
• Analyzed emission lines of Eu and Yb in metal-loaded polymers.

Main Results:

• Observed signal enhancements of approximately 10x for Europium and 12x for Ytterbium.
• Europium signals enhanced for both neutral and ionized species, while Ytterbium signals enhanced only for ionized species.
• Maximum enhancement achieved at 0.1 mg/mL for Eu and 0.05 mg/mL for Yb NPs, with no significant changes in plasma temperature or electron density.

Conclusions:

• Combining NP-enhanced LIBS and Tag-LIBS effectively enhances Eu and Yb signals in metal-loaded polymers.
• Differential enhancement mechanisms exist for Eu and Yb based on their atomic and ionic species.
• Specific NP concentrations are crucial for maximizing signal intensity without altering plasma characteristics.