Best of the Week: What You Missed from Pittcon and AAFS

This week, Spectroscopy published various articles that provided insights into two major conferences, Pittcon and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference. These pieces cover several important application areas such as food analysis, bioanalysis, and forensic analysis. Several key techniques are highlighted, including Raman spectroscopy, imaging spectroscopy, and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Happy reading!

Magnetic Particles Show Promise Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Biofilms

In a recent study, researchers led by James Chapman from Griffith University developed magnetic particles with a core-shell structure to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms. Chapman presented this research during Pittcon, which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, from March 1–5, 2025 (1). The particles, which feature an iron-based core and a gallium-based alloy shell, spike up when exposed to a magnetic field, physically rupturing bacterial membranes (1). This method proved effective against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, achieving a 99% inactivation rate (1). Additionally, chemometric analysis and deep learning models helped assess antibiotic mechanisms and bacterial viability, which offer a promising approach to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Advancing NIR and Imaging Spectroscopy in Food and Bioanalysis

Last week, Pittcon took place in Boston, Massachusetts. Throughout the course of the week, attendees had the opportunity to attend informative talks, participate in numerous social events, and learn about the latest trends and developments in laboratory science. Christian Huck, a professor at the University of Innsbruck, presented a talk titled, “The Near-Infrared and Imaging Spectroscopy in Food and Bioanalysis: Current and Future Directions” (2). At Pittcon, we sat down with Huck to discuss the talk he gave at Pittcon. Our full-length interview with Huck covers more than just NIR spectroscopy in food and bio analysis. We sat down with Huck to also discuss the most important ongoing trends in spectroscopy. Our conversation covered the current challenges spectroscopists face today and how these concerns can be resolved (2).

Raman Spectroscopy Aflatoxin Detection Enhances Peanut Safety

In a recent study, researchers from Jiangsu University developed a novel method using Raman spectroscopy to detect Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in peanuts. This approach addresses the limitations of conventional techniques like HPLC and TLC, which are costly and time-consuming (3). The team employed a two-step hybrid strategy combining backward interval partial least squares (BiPLS) and variable combination population analysis (VCPA) to enhance predictive accuracy. Their BiPLS-VCPA-PLS model achieved high accuracy, with a prediction correlation coefficient of 0.9558 (3). This advanced, cost-effective method offers a practical solution for real-time food safety monitoring and reducing aflatoxin contamination risks in the agricultural and food industries (3).

What You Missed at AAFS 2025

The AAFS Conference took place from February 17^th to 22^nd, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. Although we were unable to attend the conference in person this year, we covered the conference virtually, conducting interviews with some of the leading forensic scientists and subject matter experts. In this video interview, we speak with Tom Metz of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Heidi Eldridge of George Washington University, and Claire Glynn of the University of New Haven (4). All three of them attended AAFS this year and delivered important talks that provide insight into the state of the forensic science industry (4). Metz, Eldridge, and Glynn offer some insights into what it was like to attend AAFS this year and give their thoughts as to what stood out to them throughout the week (4).

New Fluorescence Model Enhances Aflatoxin Detection in Vegetable Oils

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in vegetable oils poses serious health risks, but its detection via fluorescence spectroscopy is hampered by optical interference from natural compounds like polyphenols and chlorophyll. In a recent study published in Food Chemistry, a research team led by Meng Wang developed a neural network-based model to recover AFB1’s true fluorescence signal (5). Using double integrating spheres and laser-induced fluorescence, the team applied a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) to enhance detection accuracy (5). This innovative, cost-effective approach advances food safety monitoring and holds promise for broader applications in detecting contaminants in complex food matrices.

References

1. Bigica, A. Magnetic Particles Show Promise Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Biofilms. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/magnetic-particles-show-promise-against-antimicrobial-resistant-biofilms (accessed 2025-03-13).
2. Wetzel, W. Advancing NIR and Imaging Spectroscopy in Food and Bioanalysis. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/advancing-nir-and-imaging-spectroscopy-in-food-bioanalysis (accessed 2025-03-13).
3. Workman, Jr., J. Raman Spectroscopy Aflatoxin Detection Enhances Peanut Safety. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/raman-spectroscopy-aflatoxin-detection-enhances-peanut-safety (accessed 2025-03-13).
4. Wetzel, W. What You Missed at AAFS 2025. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/what-you-missed-at-aafs-2025 (accessed 2025-03-13).
5. Workman, Jr., J. New Fluorescence Model Enhances Aflatoxin Detection in Vegetable Oils. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/new-fluorescence-model-enhances-aflatoxin-detection-in-vegetable-oils (accessed 2025-03-13).