@inbook {4132, title = {Chapter 26 - Hyphenated Raman and laser spectroscopy for the characterization of microplastics in tissues}, booktitle = {Applied Raman Spectroscopy}, year = {2025}, pages = {441-451}, publisher = {Elsevier}, organization = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

This chapter is dedicated to the possibility of combining Raman spectroscopy with other spectroscopic methods, namely laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in the detection and characterization of microplastics embedded in tissues of selected model organisms. The idea is to take advantage of the complementarity of the two methods, which originates in the way of laser-tissue interaction that both techniques utilize for sample analysis. Their joint use yields complete chemical information, that is, Raman spectroscopy provides molecular information, whereas LIBS provides atomic information as is well-described in the literature. Ultimately, the tandem LIBS{\textendash}Raman analysis can be done from the same spot of the sample. Moreover, these two methods need very similar components and thus can share the majority of the laboratory setup. The chapter gives an overview of hyphenated Raman and LIBS systems, advancements in this field, and options for data processing of joint Raman and LIBS analyses. Data fusion of Raman spectroscopy and LIBS is also discussed. Special attention will be given to the detection and characterization of microplastics using Raman and LIBS systems, as microplastic pollution has attracted considerable attention in recent years, with news of microplastic detection in recent areas and also in human bodies resonating publicly. Raman spectroscopy may be utilized in the detection of microplastics and recent works support this. With the help of LIBS, which can elucidate further the potential risks of weathered microplastics, the hyphenated approach may be the way forward for in situ detection and characterization of microplastics.

}, keywords = {BF, MF}, isbn = {978-0-443-21834-7}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-21834-7.00026-8}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443218347000268}, author = {Pavel Po{\v r}{\'\i}zka and Daniel Holub and Martin Kizovsk{\'y} and Ota Samek and Jozef Kaiser and Gabriela Kal{\v c}{\'\i}kov{\'a}}, editor = {Vivek Kumar Singh} } @article {3989, title = {Raman microspectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for the analysis of polyethylene microplastics in human soft tissues}, journal = {Heliyon}, volume = {10}, year = {2024}, pages = {e37844}, abstract = {

People are exposed to microplastics (MPs) on a large scale in everyday life. However, it is not clear whether MPs can also be distributed and retained in certain tissues. Therefore, the development of analytical methods capable of detecting MPs in specific human organs/tissues is of utmost importance. In this study, the use and combination of spectroscopic techniques, namely Raman microspectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), was tested for the detection of polyethylene (PE) MPs in human tonsils. Preliminary results showed that Raman microspectroscopy was able to detect MPs down to 1\ μm in size and LIBS down to 10\ μm. In the next step, human tonsils were spiked with PE MPs, and digested. The filtered particles were analyzed using Raman microspectroscopy and LIBS, and complemented by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The results showed that Raman microspectroscopy could reliably detect PE MPs in spiked human tonsils, while LIBS and XRF served as a reference analytical method to characterize particles that could not be classified by Raman microspectroscopy for their non-organic origin. The results of this study, supported by a current feasibility study conducted on clinical samples, demonstrated the reliability and feasibility of this approach for monitoring MPs in biotic samples.

}, keywords = {BF, MF}, issn = {2405-8440}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37844}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024138753}, author = {Vikt{\'o}ria Parobkov{\'a} and Daniel Holub and Martin Kizovsk{\'y} and Gabriela Kal{\v c}{\'\i}kov{\'a} and Ula Rozman and Milan Ur{\'\i}k and Karel Novotn{\'y} and Ota Samek and Tom{\'a}{\v s} Zikmund and Pavel Po{\v r}{\'\i}zka and Jozef Kaiser} } @article {3632, title = {Laser-based techniques: Novel tools for the identification and characterization of aged microplastics with developed biofilm}, journal = {Chemosphere}, volume = {313}, year = {2023}, pages = {137373}, abstract = {

Microplastics found in the environment are often covered with a biofilm, which makes their analysis difficult. Therefore, the biofilm is usually removed before analysis, which may affect the microplastic particles or lead to their loss during the procedure. In this work, we used laser-based analytical techniques and evaluated their performance in detecting, characterizing, and classifying pristine and aged microplastics with a developed biofilm. Five types of microplastics from different polymers were selected (polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride) and aged under controlled conditions in freshwater and wastewater. The development of biofilm and the changes in the properties of the microplastic were evaluated. The pristine and aged microplastics were characterized by standard methods (e.g., optical and scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy), and then laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) were used. The results show that LIBS could identify different types of plastics regardless of the ageing and major biotic elements of the biofilm layer. LA-ICP-MS showed a high sensitivity to metals, which can be used as markers for various plastics. In addition, LA-ICP-MS can be employed in studies to monitor the adsorption and desorption (leaching) of metals during the ageing of microplastics. The use of these laser-based analytical techniques was found to be beneficial in the study of environmentally relevant microplastics.

}, keywords = {BF, MF}, issn = {0045-6535}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137373}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653522038668}, author = {Pavel Po{\v r}{\'\i}zka and Lukas Brunnbauer and Michaela Porkert and Ula Rozman and Gregor Marolt and Daniel Holub and Martin Kizovsk{\'y} and Mark{\'e}ta Bene{\v s}ov{\'a} and Ota Samek and Andreas Limbeck and Jozef Kaiser and Gabriela Kal{\v c}{\'\i}kov{\'a}} } @article {3729, title = {Rapid Identification of Pathogens Causing Bloodstream Infections by Raman Spectroscopy and Raman Tweezers}, journal = {Microbiology Spectrum}, volume = {11}, year = {2023}, pages = {e00028-23}, keywords = {BF, MF}, doi = {10.1128/spectrum.00028-23}, url = {https://journals.asm.org/doi/abs/10.1128/spectrum.00028-23}, author = {Katar{\'\i}na Rebro{\v s}ov{\'a} and Silvie Bernatov{\'a} and Martin {\v S}iler and Jan Ma{\v s}ek and Ota Samek and Jan Je{\v z}ek and Martin Kizovsk{\'y} and Veronika Hol{\'a} and Pavel Zem{\'a}nek and Filip R{\r u}{\v z}i{\v c}ka} } @article {3576, title = {The potential of combining laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy data for the analysis of wood samples}, journal = {Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy}, volume = {195}, year = {2022}, pages = {106487}, abstract = {

We report on combining the surface analysis technique of Laser-induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with Raman spectroscopy. The combination of both techniques enables to study the chemical composition of the sample in a broader context when combining elemental and molecular information. Obtained elemental and molecular spectra are characteristic for individual biological samples (e.g., organs and cells) and are considered as a fingerprint. In this study, Raman spectroscopy is used for the detection of important molecular complexes in selected wood samples, e.g., accurate lignin and cellulose content on distinct spots of the sample surface. We chose Raman as a standard reference technique that is used for the lignin/cellulose ratio estimation. To complement the molecular information, LIBS technique was employed for the imaging of essential nutrients, e.g., Ca, Na, and K. Consequently, the contribution from both analytical techniques was combined and changes in the molecular content were visually correlated to the abundance of nutrition elements and show a direct dependence between the two signal responses. Thus, we can get specific answers to relation of lignin and cellulose formation with nutrients within the plant tissue. This evidence may then be helpful for the study of the effect of various environmental and stress factors.

}, keywords = {BF, MF}, issn = {0584-8547}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2022.106487}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0584854722001318}, author = {Daniel Holub and Pavel Po{\v r}{\'\i}zka and Martin Kizovsk{\'y} and David Prochazka and Ota Samek and Josef Kaiser} }