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Updated: Jun 17, 2025
Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A New Approach for Nanoparticle's Mapping and Quantification in Organ Tissue
Published on: June 18, 2014
Assessing spatial distribution of bioindicator elements in various cutaneous tumors using correlative imaging with
Kateřina Kiss1, Hana Kopřivová2, Václav Stejskal3
1Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Academic Department of Surgery, Šimkova 870, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic; Charles University, Third Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic Surgery, Ruská 2411, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic; Surgical Department, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové Charles University and University Hospital Hradec Králové, Sokolská 581, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
This study explores using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for analyzing elemental changes in skin tumors. LIBS shows potential as a fast pre-screening tool, while LA-ICP-MS offers high-accuracy reference analysis.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Correlative imaging enhances standard histopathology for cutaneous tumors.
- Clinical application of advanced analytical techniques like LIBS and LA-ICP-MS is limited.
- Elemental composition analysis can reveal critical information about tumor characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a methodological concept for comparing LIBS and LA-ICP-MS data in skin tumor analysis.
- To investigate elemental composition changes in various malignant and benign skin tumors.
- To assess the complementary roles of LIBS and LA-ICP-MS in cutaneous tumor diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of malignant tumors (SCC, BCC, Melanoma, Angiosarcoma), a benign tumor (Nevus), and healthy skin.
- Utilized Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS).
- Employed a data processing pipeline including binary image registration and affine transformation for spatial distortion correction.
Main Results:
- Combined LIBS and LA-ICP-MS provide complementary elemental data (major: Ca, Mg, P; trace: Cu, Zn).
- A feasible methodological concept was established to compare LIBS and LA-ICP-MS results despite spatial distortions.
- LIBS demonstrated speed and reproducibility, suitable for pre-screening.
- LA-ICP-MS proved effective as a reference technique for selected samples.
Conclusions:
- The developed methodology enables comparative analysis of LIBS and LA-ICP-MS for elemental mapping in skin tumors.
- LIBS can serve as an efficient pre-screening method for cutaneous tumors.
- LA-ICP-MS is a valuable reference technique for detailed elemental analysis of preselected skin tumor samples.
