Identification of the phase composition of solid microparticles in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis using Raman microspectroscopy

Abstract

Solid particles, predominantly in micron and submicron sizes, have repeatedly been observed as a threat to a human health unique compared to the other textures of the same materials. In this work, the hypothesis the solid metal-based particles play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was investigated in patients who had not responded positively to medication. In the group of 40 randomly selected patients indicated for surgical mucotomy, the presence of solid micro- and submicron particles present in their nasal mucosa was assessed. For comparison, a set of 13 reference samples from patients without diagnosed chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was evaluated. The analysis was performed using Raman microspectroscopy. The advantage of this method is the direct identification of compounds. The main detected compounds in the mucosa samples of patients with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis were TiO2, carbon-based compounds, CaCO3, Ca(Fe, Mg, Mn)(CO3)2 MgCO3, Fe2O3, BaSO4, FeCO3 and compounds of Al and Si, all of which may pose a health risk to a living organism. In the reference samples, only TiO2 and amorphous carbon were found. In the control group mucosa, a significantly lower presence of most of the assessed compounds was found despite the longer time they had to accumulate them due to their higher mean age. Identification and characterisation of such chemicals compounds in a living organism could contribute to the overall picture of the health of the individual and lead to a better understanding of the possible causes not only in the chronic hypertrophic rhinitis, but also in other mucosal and idiopathic diseases.

Label-Free Identification of Carbonaceous Particles Using Nonlinear Optical Microscopy

“…For epidemiological and toxicology research on biological samples, labeling methods such as technetium-99-m radionuclide labeling have been used to study the lung deposition of CPs. , Labeling can be used for model studies of cells or clinical studies but cannot be implemented to investigate real-life exposure. Čabanová et al detected amorphous carbon particles from real-life exposure in the mucus and hypertrophic tissue from the human upper respiratory tract using Raman microspectroscopy. , However, Raman microspectroscopy is largely limited by the slow signal acquisition, the sensitivity to fluorescence background (in biomedical samples), and is furthermore challenging for very small particles (<200 nm) . Bové et al have developed a label-free approach to selectively detect BC and CB particles in biological samples based on unique white light (WL) emission using femtosecond (fs) pulsed near-infrared (nIR) laser in a multiphoton microscope. , This technique was used for the detection of CPs in urine and placenta tissue samples, as well as on ivy leaves. − The detection of BC in biological samples based on WL emission is a novel approach; however, it cannot detect BrC nanoparticles (NPs) in biological samples let alone differentiate between BrC and BC.…”

“…C ̌abanováet al detected amorphous carbon particles from real-life exposure in the mucus and hypertrophic tissue from the human upper respiratory tract using Raman microspectroscopy. 29,30 However, Raman microspectroscopy is largely limited by the slow signal acquisition, the sensitivity to fluorescence background (in biomedical samples), and is furthermore challenging for very small particles (<200 nm). 31 Bovéet al have developed a label-free approach to selectively detect BC and CB particles in biological samples based on unique white light (WL) emission using femtosecond (fs) pulsed near-infrared (nIR) laser in a multiphoton microscope.…”

Plastics Degradation Process within a Controlled Aqueous Laboratory Setting

“…They can seamlessly traverse the food web or by inhalation and ingestion eventually enter the human body. [25][26][27] A different approach to plastic degradation research involves thermal degradation of plastics, which focuses on transforming them into construction materials or potential energy sources, as well as monitoring the decline or complete loss of their positive properties. However, this approach does not effectively address the environmental impact.…”

Solid Anorganic Particles and Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Histopathology Study

“…All the above being said, it is quite rare to detect individual NPs in the tissues because they tend to form clusters probably due to the interaction with living cells and possibly due to processing of the tissue samples as well. For example, titanium dioxide, vastly used in various products in its nanosized form, probably enters the living organisms as a pollutant predominantly in the form of NPs; however, in tissues, it has been found mostly in the form of clusters [ 14 , 15 ].…”