Challenges in the laser ablation of soft tissues

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The main benefit of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in elemental imaging of biological samples is namely the capability to provide large scale analysis (i.e. whole slide imaging). Thus, LIBS may serve as a complementary technique providing a fast scan of the sample and guiding the researcher in further analysis across applications, incl. cancer research. However, elemental imaging of biological samples still remains a challenging task, mainly due to the soft nature of biological tissues and its heterogeneous composition. [1] Laser-tissue interaction is a complex phenomenon that is simultaneously influenced by several parameters (laser energy, spot size, ambient atmosphere, etc.). Thus, in our work, we have suggested a way how to prepare and optimize soft-tissue samples in order to get the best possible analytical signal response. Concurrently, we aim to stick to the histological preparation of the sample while it is a golden standard used in clinical research. Therefore, we only used paraffin embedding and avoided homogenization. We analyzed samples in the form of paraffin blocks and 10 μm thin cross-sections on a glass slide. Moreover, we outlined two techniques of optimization of elemental imaging. Together with the signal response, we have also investigated the plasma properties and its temporal and spatial evolution through shadowgraphy. We contributed to the development of LIBS in clinical research while analyzing human skin melanoma. We have selected several analytes (Ca, Mg, K, etc.) and imaged their distribution in the tissue, Figure 1. Finally, the relevance of the obtained results in the analysis of cancerous tissues is discussed.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy; LIBS; soft tissues; cancer research;

POŘÍZKA, P.; ŠINDELÁŘOVÁ, A.; VRLÍKOVÁ, L.; KISS, K.; KAŠKA, M.; BUCHTOVÁ, M.; KAISER, J.

25. 9. 2020

Kyoto

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