Spectrometer Technology Research Articles

Assessing Heavy Metal Contamination in Selected Farm Vegetables and Soils

Purpose: The research sought to evaluate the heavy metal concentrations in frequently eaten vegetables within the Sunyani Municipality. Design/Methodology/Approach: Carrots, cabbage, lettuce, and garden eggs sourced from various farms have been analysed about the soils in which they are cultivated, utilising the absorption atomic spectrometer (AAS) technology. Findings: The amounts of iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in cultivation soil and vegetal samples significantly exceeded permitted limits established by WHO/FAO. The accumulation levels of metals recorded in the current study for the soil samples are ranked in descending order as follows: Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn>Pb>As>Cd>Ni. A similar pattern is noted in the diminishing concentrations of metals recorded for the vegetable samples. Research Limitation: The study is limited to selected farms within the Sunyani township, and findings may not reflect the full extent of contamination across other regions in Ghana. Expanding to different climatic or agricultural regions would improve generalisability. Practical Implication: The study may help public health authorities establish regular testing of market produce, ensuring compliance with WHO/FAO permissible limits for heavy metals. Social Implication: The research raises awareness of the long-term consequences of consuming contaminated food, promoting advocacy for food safety and environmental stewardship at the community level. Originality/ Value: The study’s inclusion of soil and vegetable analysis offers a comprehensive understanding of contamination pathways.

Evaluation of Scintillation Counter Detector Using Gamma Radiation for Gold Detection

The aim of this work is to evaluate the efficiency of a new gamma spectrometer technology using a scintillation counter detector. This technique can detect the backscattered gamma radiation emitted from the samples. All rock samples were collected and irradiated by two gamma sources, Co60 and Cs137. The existence of gold (Au) was confirmed by displaying the spectrum of one standard made of pure gold and comparing the coincidence of their peaks with that of the rock samples. The spectrum of samples was displayed using the Cassy lab software program. The results indicated that Cs137 gamma spectra showed the same peak for the gold element, while the Co60 gamma spectra indicated the existence of gold radiation. Then, an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) was done to compare and verify all results.

Microscopic Observation and Physicochemical Analysis Reveal the Microstructure and Chemical Composition of Abelmoschus manihot Flower and Its Potential Value in Anti-Caries Applications.

Abelmoschus manihot flower (AMF), commonly cultivated in Southern China, is homology of medicine and food. In this study, microscopic observation revealed the microstructure of AMF, including upper epidermal cells and nonglandular hairs that play roles in defense and water management. Physicochemical analyses indicated that AMF powder exhibits weak acidity and low moisture content, suggesting its stability. Further fluorescence and spectroscopic analyses identified a diverse array of chemical constituents in AMF, including various flavonoids. Using ultra high performance liquid chromatography_quadrupole exactive hybrid mass spectrometer (UHPLC-Q Exactive HFX) technology, a total of 407 compounds were identified in AMF, 79 of which were found to have a relative content exceeding 0.1%. A network pharmacological analysis identified 31 potential active components and delineated 10 core targets associated with dental caries. Molecular docking studies demonstrated that the selected active components exhibited strong binding affinities with the aforementioned core targets, particularly flavonoids such as quercetin and morin. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of AMF's microstructure and chemical composition, establishing a scientific foundation for its applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries, as well as in oral health for caries prevention, while also exploring its potential mechanisms of action.

Evaluating deuterated-xylene for use as a fusion neutron spectrometer.

The spectrum of neutrons emitted by thermonuclear plasmas encodes information about the fuel ion distribution function. Measuring these fast neutron spectra with sufficient resolution allows for the measurement of plasma properties such as the ion temperature and strength and energy of fast ion populations. Liquid organic scintillators are a commonly used fast neutron detection technology because of their high detection efficiency and ability to discriminate between neutrons and gammas. However, performing detailed spectroscopy with these detectors is difficult because of the isotropic nature of neutron scattering on protons, the dominant mechanism of interaction. Deuterium-based scintillators have shown promise as a superior spectrometer technology because of the anisotropic nature of neutron scattering on deuterium, which significantly improves the condition number of the detector response matrix [Lawrence et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 729, 924 (2013)]. Deuterated-xylene, now available commercially, has advantages in light output and safety over benzene-based deuterated scintillators [Becchetti et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 820, 112 (2016)]. We present experimental spectrum unfoldings made by 2 in. right cylindrical protiated-xylene and deuterated-xylene detectors with response matrices generated with Geant4 and additional data from the literature. We compare their performance by measuring the neutron spectrum produced by an AmBe source and deuterium-tritium (DT) neutron generators. We find that the deuterated scintillator outperforms the protiated one for AmBe and DT spectra, suggesting deuterated-xylene should be considered for future fusion neutron spectrometry applications.

A Review: Laser Interference Lithography for Diffraction Gratings and Their Applications in Encoders and Spectrometers

The unique diffractive properties of gratings have made them essential in a wide range of applications, including spectral analysis, precision measurement, optical data storage, laser technology, and biomedical imaging. With advancements in micro- and nanotechnologies, the demand for more precise and efficient grating fabrication has increased. This review discusses the latest advancements in grating manufacturing techniques, particularly highlighting laser interference lithography, which excels in sub-beam generation through wavefront and amplitude division. Techniques such as Lloyd’s mirror configurations produce stable interference fringe fields for grating patterning in a single exposure. Orthogonal and non-orthogonal, two-axis Lloyd’s mirror interferometers have advanced the fabrication of two-dimensional gratings and large-area gratings, respectively, while laser interference combined with concave lenses enables the creation of concave gratings. Grating interferometry, utilizing optical interference principles, allows for highly precise measurements of minute displacements at the nanometer to sub-nanometer scale. This review also examines the application of grating interferometry in high-precision, absolute, and multi-degree-of-freedom measurement systems. Progress in grating fabrication has significantly advanced spectrometer technology, with integrated structures such as concave gratings, Fresnel gratings, and grating–microlens arrays driving the miniaturization of spectrometers and expanding their use in compact analytical instruments.

A step‐by‐step progressive strategy exploring whole metabolic profiles in vivo for Polygalae Radix with/without licorice

AbstractIntroductionPolygalae Radix (PR) is known to relieve toxicity and increase efficiency in various diseases after processing. However, there were few studies for aromatic carboxylic acids (ACAs) due to the limited detection, especially for the metabolites within m/z 100–2000.ObjectivesThis study aims to elucidate the whole metabolism of PR with/without licorice (LP), focusing on metabolites within m/z 100–2000 and pharmacodynamics in vivo.Material and methodsThis study was established by the combination of multidimensional ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (UPLC–MS) technology with protein sedimentation method to analyze metabolites in plasma, brain, colon, and stomach contents. Quantitative monitoring ACAs was enhanced with our novel stable isotope derivatization (SILD) technique. And then the pharmacokinetics (PK) study of relatively large metabolites was carried out. A targeted network pharmacology approach was established to avoid false positive results, mapping interactions relevant to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and other conditions.ResultsThe 85 polygala metabolites were qualitatively analyzed in plasma, brain, colon, and stomach contents. The 11 types of relatively large metabolites and 8 types of ACAs were quantitatively monitored. Among them, nine types of relatively large metabolites were assessed through PK studies. In targeted network pharmacology, it highlighted the significance of small molecular metabolites, including ACAs et al, which were frequently overlooked. LP may play a more key role mainly through neural active ligand‐receptor interaction, AD, and pertussis pathways. These findings have outlined a step‐by‐step strategy for in‐depth research in vivo, laying a foundation for further verification of biological function.

Sensor for Rapid In-Field Classification of Cannabis Samples Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

A rugged handheld sensor for rapid in-field classification of cannabis samples based on their THC content using ultra-compact near-infrared spectrometer technology is presented. The device is designed for use by the Austrian authorities to discriminate between legal and illegal cannabis samples directly at the place of intervention. Hence, the sensor allows direct measurement through commonly encountered transparent plastic packaging made from polypropylene or polyethylene without any sample preparation. The measurement time is below 20 s. Measured spectral data are evaluated using partial least squares discriminant analysis directly on the device's hardware, eliminating the need for internet connectivity for cloud computing. The classification result is visually indicated directly on the sensor via a colored LED. Validation of the sensor is performed on an independent data set acquired by non-expert users after a short introduction. Despite the challenging setting, the achieved classification accuracy is higher than 80%. Therefore, the handheld sensor has the potential to reduce the number of unnecessarily confiscated legal cannabis samples, which would lead to significant monetary savings for the authorities.

Optimal Extraction Technique and Antibacterial Properties of Essential Oil Through Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch Leaves

To provide scientific support for the exploration and application of the essential oil derived through leaves of Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch, this paper explores extraction technology optimization, composition analysis, and antibacterial properties for the essential oil derived through Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch leaves. Essential oil derived through Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch leaves was extracted by adopting hydrodistillation. With single-factor test and reaction surface improvement methods, the extraction technology of essential oil derived through Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch leaves was optimized. The structure of chemicals has been explored through the use of gas chromatographmass spectrometer (GC-MS) technology. By conducting Kirby-Bauer test and applying spread plate method, the antibacterial properties for essential oil has been measured. The liquid-solid ratio was 7.15 mL/g, the dilution period was 4.00 h, and the NaCl mass percentage was 2.26% as a consequence of the response surface optimization. The rate about gathered essential oil under such circumstances was 0.31537%. By performing chemical composition analysis, 43 compounds were measured from essential oil. Thel oil was sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli with inhibitory area diameters of 17.27, 10.85, and 9.56 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for the three bacteria strains were 2.5 × 10–6, 5 × 10–6, and 10 × 10–6 g/mL, respectively. The optimum extraction rate of essential oil derived through leaves of Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch by hydro distillation is 0.35%, with the cancer-fighting substance β-elemene reaching up to a maximum of 42.53%. Simultaneously, the essential oil derived through leaves of Magnolia sieboldii K. Koch exhibits notable antibacterial effect and large development potential, suggesting the comprehensive development and utilization.

Observations from the Proteomics Bench.

Many challenges in proteomics result from the high-throughput nature of the experiments. This paper first presents pre-analytical problems, which still occur, although the call for standardization in omics has been ongoing for many years. This article also discusses aspects that affect bioinformatic analysis based on three sets of reference data measured with different orbitrap instruments. Despite continuous advances in mass spectrometer technology as well as analysis software, data-set-wise quality control is still necessary, and decoy-based estimation, although challenged by modern instruments, should be utilized. We draw attention to the fact that numerous young researchers perceive proteomics as a mature, readily applicable technology. However, it is important to emphasize that the maximum potential of the technology can only be realized by an educated handling of its limitations.

Bulk and molecular-level composition of primary organic aerosol from wood, straw, cow dung, and plastic burning

Abstract. During the past decades, the source apportionment of organic aerosol (OA) in ambient air has been improving substantially. The database of source retrieval model-resolved mass spectral profiles for different sources has been built with the aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). However, distinguishing similar sources (such as wildfires and residential wood burning) remains challenging, as the hard ionization of the AMS mostly fragments compounds and therefore cannot capture detailed molecular information. Recent mass spectrometer technologies of soft ionization and high mass resolution have allowed for aerosol characterization at the molecular formula level. In this study, we systematically estimated the emission factors and characterized the primary OA (POA) chemical composition with the AMS and the extractive electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (EESI-TOF) for the first time from a variety of solid fuels, including beech logs, spruce and pine logs, spruce and pine branches and needles, straw, cow dung, and plastic bags. The emission factors of organic matter estimated by the AMS and hydrocarbon gases estimated by the total hydrocarbon analyzer are 16.2 ± 10.8 g kg−1 and 30.3 ± 8.5 g kg−1 for cow dung burning, which is generally higher than that of wood (beech, spruce, and pine), straw, and plastic bag burning (in the range from 1.1 to 6.2 g kg−1 and 14.1 to 19.3 g kg−1). The POA measured by the AMS shows that the f60 (mass fraction of m/z 60) varies from 0.003 to 0.04 based on fuel types and combustion efficiency for wood (beech, spruce, and pine) and cow dung burning. On a molecular level, the dominant compound of POA from wood, straw, and cow dung is C6H10O5 (mainly levoglucosan), contributing ∼ 7 % to ∼ 30 % of the total intensity, followed by C8H12O6 with fractions of ∼ 2 % to ∼ 9 %. However, as they are prevalent in all burning of biomass material, they cannot act as tracers for the specific sources. By using the Mann–Whitney U test among the studied fuels, we find specific potential new markers for these fuels from the measurement of the AMS and EESI-TOF. Markers from spruce and pine burning are likely related to resin acids (e.g., compounds with 20–21 carbon atoms). The product from the pyrolysis of hardwood lignins is found especially in beech log burning. Nitrogen-containing species are selected markers primarily for cow dung open burning. These markers in the future will provide support for the source apportionment.

Hyperspectral Channel-Modulated Static Birefringent Fourier Transform Imaging Spectropolarimeter with Zoomable Spectral Resolution

A novel channel-modulated static birefringent Fourier transform imaging spectropolarimeter (CSBFTIS) is introduced, which is based on a double Wollaston prism (DWP). With an adjustable air gap (AG), the spectral resolution can be adjusted by changing the AG. The CSBFTIS combines the channel-modulated imaging spectropolarimeter and the slit-free static birefringent Fourier transform imaging spectrometer technology with adjustable spectral resolution. The device is compact and robust, with a wide spectral range and a large luminous flux. Compared with various previous spectropolarimeters, it can greatly reduce the size of the spectral image data to adapt to different application requirements. A prototype is built, and simulation and experiments are carried out, and the results prove the effectiveness of the method.

Alterations in mitochondrial protein glycosylation in myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury

The alterations in mitochondrial protein glycosylation in myocardial ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) injury are still unclear. Therefore, based on a lectin microarray and liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer (LC‒MS/MS) technology combined with a bioinformatics analysis, we studied the changes in mitochondrial protein glycosylation during I/R injury. This study revealed significant differences in mitochondrial glycoprotein during I/R injury. Compared with the sham operation group, the model group, which underwent ischaemia for 30 min, showed a high expression of glycan structures recognized by lectins, such as WFA, PTL-I, LTL, GSL-I, SBA and SNA, and a low expression of glycan structures recognized by ConA, VVA and RCA120. The model group, which underwent ischaemia for 45 min, showed a high expression of glycan structures recognized by LTL and SNA and a low expression of glycan structures recognized by ECA. Further analysis showed that the Siaα2-6Gal/N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) structures recognized by SNA were significantly increased. In total, 91 differential proteins were identified by LC‒MS/MS, and 8 hub genes were screened by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment and protein interaction analyses. Compared with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database genes, two differential genes, Pros1 and Vtn, were obtained. Pros1 is a key regulator of the inflammatory response and vascular injury response. The Vtn gene variant is associated with the risk of myocardial infarction. This study is expected to provide a new method for the treatment of I/R injury and could provide new ideas for the postoperative prognosis of patients.

Improvement of corrosion resistance of Ni-based alloy by adding 5 wt.% rhenium

In this work, the corrosion behavior and underlying mechanism of Ni-based alloy with the addition of refractory metal rhenium in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution and a high-temperature environment were systematically investigated. After Potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy tests, it is found that Re can promote the formation of a passivation layer, which reduces the corrosion current density of the alloy by an order of magnitude, and at the same time has a higher impedance arc and shows stronger electrochemical corrosion resistance. Using Energy Dispersive Spectrometer technology to test the samples after high-temperature oxidation, it is found that the uniform distribution of Re will make the alloy form an Nb element rich layer on the surface layer and hinder the diffusion of Mn, making the oxide layer more continuous and dense, thus improving the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the alloy.

A novel strategy on the study of whole intestinal metabolic profiles for Polygalae Radix before and after processing.

Relieving toxicity and enhancing a calming effect after processing Polygalae Radix (PR) are widely known. Aromatic carboxylic acids (ACAs) may be crucial processed products. However, due to the limited detection methods for ACAs, the whole metabolic profiles via intestinal bacteria are still not very clear. Designing a novel strategy for the detection of ACAs and tracking the whole metabolic profiles before and after processing PR. The stable-isotope labelling derivatisation (SILD) method based on multidimensional ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS) technology and UNIFI-pathway mode was firstly designed to systematically study the metabolisms of all the drug-derived ingredients ranging from m/z 100 to 2000 in processing PR via intestinal bacteria. Firstly, the SILD with UHPLC coupled with a triple-quadrupole MS technology was designed to trace eight ACA metabolites of the processed PR with intestinal bacteria. Additionally, the UHPLC coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight MS with UNIFI-pathway mode was adopted to monitor relatively big metabolites. The metabolism mechanism of ACAs (eight kinds) and the relatively big molecular metabolites (98 kinds) were deeply traced in PR, PR with refined honey (HP), and PR with licorice (LP) via the intestinal bacteria. Totally 106 intact metabolic profiles of drug-derived ingredients were presented. Importantly, the influence of LP on the metabolism of compounds after incubation of intestinal bacteria was greater than that of HP. This research provides a comprehensive and systematic guidance for further study on in vivo metabolisms of the processed PR.

Quantitative proteomics reveals potential anti-inflammatory protein targets of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in TNF-α-induced model of acute inflammation in primary human tenocytes

Tendinopathy refers to a type of tendon disease with a multifactorial spectrum. Recent research has begun to reveal the effects of inflammation on the tendinopathic process, especially in the first stage of tendinopathy. Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) has been successfully used to treat orthopedic diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of rESWT on tumor necrosis factor-α treated tenocytes have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we applied total protein tandem mass tag-labeled quantitative proteomics with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer technology to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) among inflammatory tenocytes, rESWT inflammatory tenocytes, and controls using three biological replicates. Human tenocytes were used and they were cultured in vitro. In total, 1028 and 40 DEPs were detected for control versus inflammatory tenocytes and for inflammatory tenocytes versus rESWT inflammatory tenocytes, respectively. Further, we identified integrin α2, selenoprotein S, and NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4 as pivotal molecular targets of the anti-inflammatory effects of rESWT. This is the first study to provide a reference proteomic map for inflammatory tenocytes and rESWT inflammatory tenocytes. Our findings provide crucial insight into the molecular mechanisms underscoring the anti-inflammatory effects of rESWT in tendinopathy.

Identification and Dissipation of Chlorpyrifos and Its Main Metabolite 3,5,6-TCP during Wheat Growth with UPLC-QTOF/MS.

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF/MS) technology was used to investigate the degradation and metabolism of chlorpyrifos during wheat growth by spraying plants with different doses of chlorpyrifos 7 days after the flowering and filling stage. We analyzed and identified chlorpyrifos metabolites in different parts of wheat in full-scan MSE mode, and established a chlorpyrifos metabolite screening library using UNIFI software. The results show that the residues of chlorpyrifos in wheat ears, leaves, and stems exhibited a decreasing trend with the prolongation of application time, and the degradation kinetics could be fitted with the first-order kinetic equation Ct = C0 e−kt. The initial residues of chlorpyrifos in different parts of the wheat were different, in the order of leaves > wheat ears > stems. The degradation rate of chlorpyrifos under field conditions is relatively fast, and the half-life value is 2.33−5.05 days. Chlorpyrifos can undergo a nucleophilic addition substitution reaction under the action of hydrolase to generate secondary metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (3,5,6-TCP). The residual amount of 3,5,6-TCP in each part of wheat first showed an increasing trend and then decreased over time. It reached the maximum on the 3rd, 7th, or 11th day after application, and then gradually degraded. Considering that 3,5,6-TCP is a biomarker with potential threats to humans and animals, it is recommended that 3,5,6-TCP be included in the relevant regulations for dietary exposure risk assessment.

Deep Proteome Profiling with Reduced Carryover Using Superficially Porous Microfabricated nanoLC Columns.

In the field of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based proteomics, increases in the sampling depth and proteome coverage have mainly been accomplished by rapid advances in mass spectrometer technology. The comprehensiveness and quality of the data that can be generated do, however, also depend on the performance provided by nano-liquid chromatography (nanoLC) separations. Proper selection of reversed-phase separation columns can be important to provide the MS instrument with peptides at the highest possible concentration and separated at the highest possible resolution. In the current contribution, we evaluate the use of the prototype generation 2 μPAC nanoLC columns, which use C18-functionalized superficially porous micropillars as a stationary phase. When compared to traditionally used fully porous silica stationary phases, more precursors could be characterized when performing single shot data-dependent LC-MS/MS analyses of a human cell line tryptic digest. Up to 30% more protein groups and 60% more unique peptides were identified for short gradients (10 min) and limited sample amounts (10-100 ng of cell lysate digest). With LC-MS gradient times of 10, 60, 120, and 180 min, respectively, we identified 2252, 6513, 7382, and 8174 protein groups with 25, 500, 1000, and 2000 ng of the sample loaded on the column. Reduction of sample carryover to the next run (up to 2 to 3%) and decreased levels of methionine oxidation (up to 3-fold) were identified as additional figures of merit. When analyzing a disuccinimidyl dibutyric urea-crosslinked synthetic library, 29 to 59 more unique crosslinked peptides could be identified at an experimentally validated false discovery rate of 1-2%.

DESHIMA 2.0: Development of an Integrated Superconducting Spectrometer for Science-Grade Astronomical Observations

Integrated superconducting spectrometer (ISS) technology will enable ultra-wideband, integral-field spectroscopy for (sub)millimeter-wave astronomy, in particular, for uncovering the dust-obscured cosmic star formation and galaxy evolution over cosmic time. Here we present the development of DESHIMA 2.0, an ISS for ultra-wideband spectroscopy toward high-redshift galaxies. DESHIMA 2.0 is designed to observe the 220-440 GHz band in a single shot, corresponding to a redshift range of $z$=3.3-7.6 for the ionized carbon emission ([C II] 158 $\mu$m). The first-light experiment of DESHIMA 1.0, using the 332-377 GHz band, has shown an excellent agreement among the on-sky measurements, the lab measurements, and the design. As a successor to DESHIMA 1.0, we plan the commissioning and the scientific observation campaign of DESHIMA 2.0 on the ASTE 10-m telescope in 2023. Ongoing upgrades for the full octave-bandwidth system include the wideband 347-channel chip design and the wideband quasi-optical system. For efficient measurements, we also develop the observation strategy using the mechanical fast sky-position chopper and the sky-noise removal technique based on a novel data-scientific approach. In the paper, we show the recent status of the upgrades and the plans for the scientific observation campaign.

FAST-IT: Find A Simple Test — In TIA (transient ischaemic attack): a prospective cohort study to develop a multivariable prediction model for diagnosis of TIA through proteomic discovery and candidate lipid mass spectrometry, neuroimaging and machine learning—study protocol

IntroductionTransient ischaemic attack (TIA) may be a warning sign of stroke and difficult to differentiate from minor stroke and TIA-mimics. Urgent evaluation and diagnosis is important as treating TIA early...

Isolation and Characterization of Natural Nanoparticles in Naoluo Xintong Decoction and Their Brain Protection Research.

Currently, researchers use modern analytical techniques in a unique perspective of physical pharmacy to analyze the phase composition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have discovered that natural nanoparticles commonly exist in decoctions. This study aims to isolate and characterize the structure and composition of nanoparticles in Naoluo Xintong (NLXT) and investigate whether the brain protection effect of NLXT is closely related to NLXT-Nanoparticles (NLXT-NPs). Firstly, the dialysis-centrifugation method was used to separate the nanoparticles and then their size distribution, potential, and morphology were characterized. In addition, infrared spectroscopy and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometer (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) technology were used to analyze the composition of nanoparticles. As for the pharmacodynamic experiment, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham, Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, NLXT, NLXT with nanoparticles removing (NLXT-RN), NLXT-RN+Nanoparticles (NLXT-RN+NPs), and NLXT-NPs groups. After administration, the neurological function, histopathological changes, oxidative stress, and apoptosis level were measured. Our research showed that NLXT-NPs are mainly composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and saponins, with typical characteristics of two hundred-nanometer size and negatively loaded. NLXT can improve nerve function, reduce oxidative stress, and inhibit cell apoptosis. However, removing nanoparticles can significantly reduce the brain-protective effect of NLXT, which indicates that NLXT-NPs play an essential role in the efficacy of NLXT.