Abstract
In most clinical and nutritional studies, it is of significance to know information about the multielemental composition of biological samples. Conventional analysis of biological samples relies upon sample digestion followed by atomic spectrometry detection. This approach is essential for the quantification of ultratrace elements in biological samples. While in other applications it could be of interest to have simpler analytical methods with multielemental capability but involving a minimum sample treatment, reduce the amount of sample and a more cost‐effective analysis. In the present contribution, the possibilities and drawbacks of simple sample treatments (i.e., dilution and suspension) in combination with total reflection X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) for the analysis of different types of biological samples have been critically evaluated. For that, a set of reference materials or well‐characterized biological human fluids (blood, serum, plasma and seminal plasma) and animal/vegetal tissues have been used to estimate the analytical capabilities in terms of limits of detection, trueness and precision of the proposed TXRF methods. The results are based on the authors' experience in analysing biological samples using TXRF, and it is expected that they can be useful for new TXRF users in this field and they can provide a good basis for further application of this technique in clinical studies and other applications dealing with the analysis of biological samples in the future.
Highlights
Elemental monitoring in human body fluids is of special interest in view of the importance of body metal imbalances inphysiological processes and diagnosis of various disorders.[1,2] Likewise, knowing the elemental composition of vegetal and animal tissues can be useful for safety and nutritional purposes.[3]
The results are based on the authors' experience in analysing biological samples using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF), and it is expected that they can be useful for new TXRF users in this field and they can provide a good basis for further application of this technique in clinical studies and other applications dealing with the analysis of biological samples in the future
This study gives insight into the possibilities and drawbacks of analytical methods based on the use of TXRF instrumentation for biological samples analysis
Summary
Elemental monitoring in human body fluids (i.e., blood, serum, plasma, seminal plasma...) is of special interest in view of the importance of body metal imbalances in (patho)physiological processes and diagnosis of various disorders.[1,2] Likewise, knowing the elemental composition of vegetal and animal tissues can be useful for safety and nutritional purposes.[3]. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICPAES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are selected for element determination in biological samples.[4,5,6] In the last years, the number of studies dealing with the use of ICP-MS has been increased due to its multielemental capability, high sample throughput and high sensitivity. These kinds of systems are designed for the analysis of low-salty liquid samples and biological samples have to be processed before analysis. Solid biological samples have to be transformed to liquid state by means of a digestion procedure, which is in most cases timeconsuming.[8]
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