Best of the Week: Exclusive on Flow Imaging Microscopy, Interview with PNNL Chief Science Officer

This week, Spectroscopy published articles highlighting recent studies in several application areas, including biomedical science, forensics, and environmental analysis. Key techniques highlighted in these articles include mass spectrometry (MS), flow imaging microscopy (FIM), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and optical-photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. Happy reading!

An Exclusive Spectroscopy Interview on Flow Imaging Microscopy in Collaboration with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Part 1

In this interview with Austin Daniels, applications scientist at Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, he talks about flow imaging microscopy (FIM), which was originally developed for marine research, and how it has been adapted for pharmaceutical applications to analyze subvisible particles in biologics. Unlike traditional methods such as light obscuration (LO) and membrane microscopy (MM), FIM captures both numerical and morphological data, improving contamination identification and compliance with regulatory guidelines like USP <1787> and <1788> (1). It excels in detecting transparent particles, distinguishing protein aggregates from silicone oil droplets, and identifying sources of contamination (1). As a high-throughput technique, FIM enhances drug formulation optimization and quality control, though challenges remain in automation and standardization.

PNNL’s Chief Science Officer Reflects on Using Advanced MS to Study Ebola in Sierra Leone

Our coverage of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference saw us discuss molecular measurement science with Tom Metz, who is a laboratory fellow and chief science officer at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). In this article, Metz reflects on how advanced mass spectrometry (MS) technologies were used to study Ebola during the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa (2). His story explains how his team’s collaborators at the University of Wisconsin traveled to Sierra Leone to conduct the initial analysis.

Improving Fluorescence and Raman Techniques for Environmental Microplastic Analysis

Researchers at LaserLaB Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam developed improved spectroscopic imaging techniques for microplastic (MP) characterization, optimizing sample preparation with density separation and Nile Red staining. Their Merel’s Environmental Separation System (MESSY) efficiently isolates MPs from sediment using a zinc chloride solution with a 95% recovery rate (3). In this interview, Spectroscopy sat down with Merel Konings, who is a master's student in chemistry (analytical sciences) at the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, to discuss these advancements and how they enhance MP detection and quantification in environmental samples, aiding future research and pollution monitoring efforts (3).

How Software Aids the Interpretation of Complex Raman Spectra

In a recent interview, John Richmond and Tom Dearing of Thermo Fisher Scientific discussed the software capabilities of the MarqMetrix All-In-One Raman Analyzer, emphasizing its user-friendly interface and seamless data interpretation (4). They highlighted the Remspec software, which enables automated data analysis and real-time trend monitoring, making Raman technology more accessible in process environments like oil and gas (4). Richmond also explained Thermo Fisher’s preference for a multi-system approach over multiplexers, ensuring greater reliability by assigning a dedicated analyzer to each sample point, reducing the risk of total system failure and improving overall process monitoring efficiency (4).

New Infrared Spectroscopy Technique Enhances Mars-Analogue Basalt Sample Analysis

Researchers have applied optical-photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy to detect microbes and smectite minerals in Mars-analogue basalt at submicron scales. This technique surpasses traditional Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy, aiding future Mars sample return (MSR) missions. The study confirmed microbial detection within clay-filled fractures and identified iron-rich smectite minerals (5). O-PTIR offers high-resolution, non-destructive analysis crucial for preserving biosignatures. Researchers propose integrating it with mass spectrometry for comprehensive studies (5). As NASA and international teams refine MSR protocols, O-PTIR may become essential in uncovering Mars’s geological and potential biological history (5).

References

1. Workman, Jr, J. An Exclusive Spectroscopy Interview on Flow Imaging Microscopy in Collaboration with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), Part 1. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/an-exclusive-spectroscopy-interview-on-flow-imaging-microscopy-in-collaboration-with-the-american-association-of-pharmaceutical-scientists-aaps-part-1 (accessed 2025-04-03).
2. Wetzel, W. PNNL’s Chief Science Officer Reflects on Using Advanced MS to Study Ebola in Sierra Leone. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/pnnl-s-chief-science-officer-reflects-on-using-advanced-ms-to-study-ebola-in-sierra-leone (accessed 2025-04-03).
3. Chasse, J. Improving Fluorescence and Raman Techniques for Environmental Microplastic Analysis. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/improving-fluorescence-and-raman-techniques-for-environmental-microplastic-analysis (accessed 2025-04-03).
4. Wetzel, W. How Software Aids the Interpretation of Complex Raman Spectra. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/how-software-aids-the-interpretation-of-complex-raman-spectra (accessed 2025-04-03).
5. Workman, Jr., J. New Infrared Spectroscopy Technique Enhances Mars-Analogue Basalt Sample Analysis. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/new-infrared-spectroscopy-technique-enhances-mars-analogue-basalt-sample-analysis (accessed 2025-04-03).