Best of the Week: Celebrating Women in Spectroscopy, Detecting Microplastics in Drinking Water

This week, Spectroscopy published various articles that touch upon several important application areas such as forensic analysis, environmental analysis, and drug detection. Several key techniques are highlighted, including automated Raman microspectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy. Happy reading!

Celebrating Women in Spectroscopy

This week, the United Nations General Assembly celebrated International Day of Women and Girls in Science (1). This occasion is designed to honor and recognize the many contributions women have made in STEM. The day is also designed to raise awareness and promote full and equal access in science for women and girls. Spectroscopy decided to honor this day by compiling a list of female spectroscopists who have made impacts in this field. The articles listed in this piece highlight the research female spectroscopists are doing in application areas such as forensic analysis, environmental science, and more (1).

Detection of Microplastics in Bottled Water Using Raman Microspectroscopy

In Part 1 of this video interview, Oskar Hagelskjaer, CEO of Microplastic Solution, discusses his study on microplastic (MP) contamination in bottled and tap water using automated Raman microspectroscopy. His research detected MPs as small as 1 μm, highlighting the need for stricter regulations beyond the EU Directive 2020/2184, which only considers MPs in the 20–5000 μm range (2). Hagelskjaer explores the health risks of smaller MPs, variability in MP levels across brands, potential sources—including bottle materials—and broader contamination concerns (2). He also discusses his work on atmospheric MPs and developing protocols for their detection, recovery, and mitigation across various environments (2).

Using Automated Raman Microspectroscopy to Detect Microplastics in Potable Water

In Part 2 of this video interview, Oskar Hagelskjaer of Microplastic Solution dives deeper into the methodology of his recent study. He discusses the advantages of automated Raman microspectroscopy and why he used it for his study, the need for stricter MP regulations, and the role of quality control in ensuring accurate MP detection (3). Hagelskjaer also goes into detail about the negative and positive procedural quality control measures in his study, discussing their importance.

New AI-Powered Raman Spectroscopy Method Enables Rapid Drug Detection in Blood

A recent study introduced a rapid, highly sensitive drug detection method using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with AI-driven analysis. Developed by researchers in China and Finland, this technique employs silver nanoparticles functionalized with a “molecular hook” to selectively capture small drug molecules while excluding larger biomolecules (4). It successfully detected cardiovascular drugs at ultra-low concentrations. AI integration enhanced the accuracy, while nanoparticle aggregation boosted signal intensity (4). This innovation enables real-time, non-invasive drug monitoring, improving personalized treatment. The approach could extend to other medications, revolutionizing clinical diagnostics by offering a precise, efficient alternative to conventional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) methods (4).

New Method for Detecting Fentanyl in Human Nails Using ATR FT-IR and Machine Learning

A recent study demonstrated that human nails could serve as an effective biomarker for detecting fentanyl exposure. Researchers from Texas Tech University and European institutions used attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy combined with machine learning (ML) to analyze nail clippings. This non-invasive method identified fentanyl users with up to 84.8% accuracy (5). Nails retain substances longer than hair or bodily fluids, making them ideal for forensic and clinical toxicology. Future research will refine ML models and expand detection to fentanyl analogs (5). This approach offers a promising alternative to traditional drug screening methods like gas chromatography–MS (GC–MS) and LC–MS.

References

1. Wetzel, W. Celebrating Women in Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/celebrating-women-in-spectroscopy (accessed 2025-02-12).
2. Wetzel, W. Detection of Microplastics in Bottled Water Using Raman Microspectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/detection-of-microplastics-in-bottled-water-using-raman-microspectroscopy (accessed 2025-02-12).
3. Wetzel, W. Using Automated Raman Microspectroscopy to Detect Microplastics in Potable Water. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/using-automated-raman-microspectroscopy-to-detect-microplastics-in-potable-water (accessed 2025-02-12).
4. Workman, Jr., J. New AI-Powered Raman Spectroscopy Method Enables Rapid Drug Detection in Blood. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/new-ai-powered-raman-spectroscopy-method-enables-rapid-drug-detection-in-blood (accessed 2025-02-12).
5. Workman, Jr., J. New Method for Detecting Fentanyl in Human Nails Using ATR FT-IR and Machine Learning. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/new-method-for-detecting-fentanyl-in-human-nails-using-atr-ft-ir-and-machine-learning (accessed 2025-02-12).