Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact
(1) Background: Elemental imaging methods such as XRF, SEM/TEM-EDS, LIBS and LA-ICP-MS are widely used in clinical diagnostics. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to assess the safety of both standard and innovative therapies, diagnose diseases, detect pathogens or determine intracellular...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2864 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839631699977175040 |
|---|---|
| author | Jan Sawicki Marcin Feldo Agnieszka Skalska-Kamińska Ireneusz Sowa |
| author_facet | Jan Sawicki Marcin Feldo Agnieszka Skalska-Kamińska Ireneusz Sowa |
| author_sort | Jan Sawicki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Elemental imaging methods such as XRF, SEM/TEM-EDS, LIBS and LA-ICP-MS are widely used in clinical diagnostics. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to assess the safety of both standard and innovative therapies, diagnose diseases, detect pathogens or determine intracellular processes. In addition to bioimaging, these techniques are used for semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses. Some of them also enable highly valuable speciation of analytes. However, the quality of information about elemental tissue composition depends on a number of different factors. Although the crucial parameters of quantitative analysis are the same for each technique, their impact varies depending on the bioimaging method. Due to the fact that imaging results are often crucial in clinical decision-making, it is important to clearly indicate and describe the parameters affecting the quality of results in each technique. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the influence of these crucial parameters on bioimaging results based on the methodology and results of studies published in the last ten years. (2) Methods: In order to collect relevant publications, the Scopus database was searched using the keywords “element AND imaging AND human tissue”. Next, studies were selected in which methodological aspects allowed relevant conclusions to be made regarding the quality of the results obtained. (3) Results: One of the most important parameters for all techniques is measurement selectivity resulting from the complexity of human tissue. Quantitative analyses using bioimaging techniques are difficult due to the lack of suitable calibration materials. For the same reason, it is challenging to assess the accuracy of the results obtained. Particular attention should be paid to the results obtained for trace elements. (4) Conclusions: The discussed bioimaging techniques are a powerful tool in the elemental analysis of human tissues. Nevertheless, in order to obtain reliable results, a number of factors influencing the measurements must be taken into account. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1a00b7df21545f2b5e67ee0ca8fdd03 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1a00b7df21545f2b5e67ee0ca8fdd032025-07-11T14:41:15ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013013286410.3390/molecules30132864Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical ImpactJan Sawicki0Marcin Feldo1Agnieszka Skalska-Kamińska2Ireneusz Sowa3Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Aleje Raclawickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 11 St., 20-081 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Aleje Raclawickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Aleje Raclawickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, Poland(1) Background: Elemental imaging methods such as XRF, SEM/TEM-EDS, LIBS and LA-ICP-MS are widely used in clinical diagnostics. Based on the results obtained, it is possible to assess the safety of both standard and innovative therapies, diagnose diseases, detect pathogens or determine intracellular processes. In addition to bioimaging, these techniques are used for semi-quantitative and quantitative analyses. Some of them also enable highly valuable speciation of analytes. However, the quality of information about elemental tissue composition depends on a number of different factors. Although the crucial parameters of quantitative analysis are the same for each technique, their impact varies depending on the bioimaging method. Due to the fact that imaging results are often crucial in clinical decision-making, it is important to clearly indicate and describe the parameters affecting the quality of results in each technique. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe the influence of these crucial parameters on bioimaging results based on the methodology and results of studies published in the last ten years. (2) Methods: In order to collect relevant publications, the Scopus database was searched using the keywords “element AND imaging AND human tissue”. Next, studies were selected in which methodological aspects allowed relevant conclusions to be made regarding the quality of the results obtained. (3) Results: One of the most important parameters for all techniques is measurement selectivity resulting from the complexity of human tissue. Quantitative analyses using bioimaging techniques are difficult due to the lack of suitable calibration materials. For the same reason, it is challenging to assess the accuracy of the results obtained. Particular attention should be paid to the results obtained for trace elements. (4) Conclusions: The discussed bioimaging techniques are a powerful tool in the elemental analysis of human tissues. Nevertheless, in order to obtain reliable results, a number of factors influencing the measurements must be taken into account.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2864LIBSLA-ICP-MSXRFXANESSEM-EDSTEM-EDS |
| spellingShingle | Jan Sawicki Marcin Feldo Agnieszka Skalska-Kamińska Ireneusz Sowa Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact Molecules LIBS LA-ICP-MS XRF XANES SEM-EDS TEM-EDS |
| title | Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact |
| title_full | Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact |
| title_fullStr | Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact |
| title_short | Modern Bioimaging Techniques for Elemental Tissue Analysis: Key Parameters, Challenges and Medical Impact |
| title_sort | modern bioimaging techniques for elemental tissue analysis key parameters challenges and medical impact |
| topic | LIBS LA-ICP-MS XRF XANES SEM-EDS TEM-EDS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2864 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jansawicki modernbioimagingtechniquesforelementaltissueanalysiskeyparameterschallengesandmedicalimpact AT marcinfeldo modernbioimagingtechniquesforelementaltissueanalysiskeyparameterschallengesandmedicalimpact AT agnieszkaskalskakaminska modernbioimagingtechniquesforelementaltissueanalysiskeyparameterschallengesandmedicalimpact AT ireneuszsowa modernbioimagingtechniquesforelementaltissueanalysiskeyparameterschallengesandmedicalimpact |