Best of the Week: Classifying Microplastics, LEGO Bricks and Raman Spectroscopy, Heavy Metals in Seaweed

This week, Spectroscopy published a variety of articles on the hottest topics in analytical spectroscopy and beyond, including a peer-reviewed article. These articles cover various industries and a wide range of spectroscopic techniques. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers and subscribers. Happy reading!

LEGO Bricks: A New Standard for Evaluating Fluorescence in Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers have proposed an innovative approach to tackling fluorescence interference in Raman spectroscopy by using LEGO blocks as standard samples (3). This new method offers a low-cost, rugged, and reproducible alternative to the complex liquid mixtures traditionally used in such studies, marking a significant advancement in the field of spectroscopic analysis (3).

Effect of Tissue Optical Properties on the Fluorescence of BODIPY Derivative as a Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy

This article investigates laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of the emerging photodynamic photosensitizer BODIPY-520 in turbid media, utilizing a 520 nm laser diode to excite tissue-like optical phantoms (1). It examines how the scattering and absorption properties of the turbid medium affect the fluorescence signals. The study finds that BODIPY-520 exhibits a significant fluorescence peak at 600 nm, which shifts to 675 nm in the presence of absorbing components but remains unchanged with scattering components (1). The research also quantifies the impact of oxygen concentration on fluorescence spectra. These insights can be used to optimize BODIPY-520 based photodynamic therapy protocols (1).

Determining Heavy Metals in Seaweed: An Interview with Kacie Ho of the University of Hawaii

This article explores the dual nature of seaweed as a source of both beneficial nutrients and potentially harmful heavy metals (2). While seaweed is a nutritious and flavorful addition to dishes worldwide, factors such as species and growing conditions can influence the balance of essential minerals and toxic metals it contains (2). The U.S. lacks regulatory limits for toxic substances in whole pieces of edible seaweed (2). Kacie Ho and her team from the University of Hawaii conducted a comprehensive analysis of six species of Hawaiian seaweeds, detailing the levels of essential nutrients and heavy metals. This interview with Ho discusses their findings and the implications for future seaweed regulation.

Integrating Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning to Classify Microplastics

A research team from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India examined how Raman spectroscopy and machine learning can be used to classify microplastics in water sources (4).

Hyperspectral Imaging: An Examination of an Emerging Field in Spectroscopy

Hyperspectral imaging is an advanced technique that captures and processes information across a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum (5). Applications of hyperspectral imaging span various fields, including agriculture for crop monitoring, environmental science for detecting pollutants, medical diagnostics for identifying tissue abnormalities, and defense for surveillance and target identification (5). This article spotlights the most recent studies we’ve covered on hyperspectral imaging.

References

(1) Kamel, B.; El-Daher, M. S.; Bachir, W.; Aljalali, S. Effect of Tissue Optical Properties on the Fluorescence of BODIPY Derivative as a Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy. Spectroscopy 2024, ASAP. https://doi.org/10.56530/spectroscopy.ye4569u1

(2) Acevedo, A. Determining Heavy Metals in Seaweed: An Interview with Kacie Ho of the University of Hawaii. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/determining-heavy-metals-in-seaweed-an-interview-with-kacie-ho-of-the-university-of-hawaii (accessed 2024-05-30).

(3) Workman, Jr., J. LEGO Bricks: A New Standard for Evaluating Fluorescence in Raman Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/llego-bricks-a-new-standard-for-evaluating-fluorescence-in-raman-spectroscopy (accessed 2024-05-30).

(4) Wetzel, W. Integrating Raman Spectroscopy and Machine Learning to Classify Microplastics. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/integrating-raman-spectroscopy-and-machine-learning-to-classify-microplastics (accessed 2024-05-30).

(5) Wetzel, W. Hyperspectral Imaging: An Examination of an Emerging Field in Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/hyperspectral-imaging-an-examination-of-an-emerging-field-in-spectroscopy (accessed 2024-05-30).