Research Progress in the Medical Application of Heavy Water, Especially in the Field of D₂O-Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Heavy water is an ideal contrast agent for metabolic activity and can be adapted to a wide range of biological systems owing to its non-invasiveness, universal applicability, and cost-effectiveness. As a new type of probe, the heavy isotope of water has been widely used in the study of cell development, metabolism, tissue homeostasis, aging, and tumor heterogeneity. Herein, we review findings supporting the applications of and research on heavy water in monitoring of bacterial metabolism, rapid detection of drug sensitivity, identification of tumor cells, precision medicine, and evaluation of skin barrier function and promote the use of heavy water as a suitable marker for the development of detection and treatment methodologies.

Non-invasive detection of renal disease biomarkers through breath analysis

“…Deuterium oxide (D 2 O), also known as heavy water, is sometimes used as a non-invasive marker in various studies involving the human body [72]. In the realm of cutting-edge diagnostics, flowing afterglow MS (FA-MS) stands out by swiftly gauging total body water through deuterium levels in exhaled vapor after consuming deuterium-labeled water [73].…”

Solvent-induced luminescence behavior of Ce/Eu@Gd-MOF for ratiometric detection of D2O in H2O

“…[17][18][19] The similarity in the physical and chemical properties renders D 2 O and H 2 O highly suitable candidates for exploring solvent-induced luminescence behavior, minimizing the influence of factors such as solvent viscosity, chemical reactivity, and dispersibility. [20][21][22] From another perspective, the investigation of the luminescence behavior of Ln-MOFs in H 2 O and D 2 O also presents an opportunity to provide a rapid and convenient approach for detecting D 2 O content in H 2 O.…”