Enhanced Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques for autism diagnosis in children

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM EDT

Location: Ballroom D

Presenting Author(s)

RG

Rosalba Gaudiuso

Associate professor
University of Bari
Bari, Puglia, Italy

Non-Presenting Author(s)

MV

Milica Vinić

Research fellow
University of Bari
Bari, Puglia, Italy
IT

Immacolata Concetta Tommasi

Associate professor
University of Bari
Bari, Puglia, Italy
AD

Andrea De Giacomo

Associate professor
University of Bari
Bari, Puglia, Italy
CG

Caterina Gaudiuso

Researcher
Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnology of National Research Council (CNR-IFN)
Bari, Puglia, Italy
FM

Francesco Paolo Mezzapesa

Senior researcher
Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnology of National Research Council (CNR-IFN)
Bari, Puglia, Italy
AS

Antonio Santagata

Senior researcher
Institute for Structure of Matter of National Research Council (CNR-ISM)
Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
MP

Maria Lucia Pace

Technologist
Institute for Structure of Matter of National Research Council (CNR-IFN)
Potenza, Basilicata, Italy
lC

lucrezia Catanzaro

PhD student
University of Catania
Catania, Sicilia, Italy
lD

luisa D'Urso

Associate professor
University of Catania
Catania, Sicilia, Italy
GC

Giuseppe Romano Compagnini

Full professor
University of Catania
Catania, Sicilia, Italy

In fifteen words or less, explain the significance of this contribution (Novel Aspect).: Substrate-modification methods for sensitive detection of metallic neurotoxicant traces in biological fluids via LIBS

Abstract Text:

Epidemiological surveys indicate that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases are on an increasing trend worldwide. The etiology of this multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder is still unclear, but it is thought to be linked to both genetic and environmental factors [1]. Among the latter, exposure to neurotoxicants, and particularly to metallic pollutants, is increasingly thought to play a significant role in the onset of ASD in pediatric patients. While early diagnosis is crucial, ASD nowadays is still largely diagnosed based on behavioral evaluation and developmental history, with two typical pitfalls: 1) different disorders can manifest with similar symptoms; 2) behavioral changes may go unnoticed and the disorder undiagnosed for extended periods of time.

In this work, we present our first results on the development of a spectroscopic method to obtain a metallomic profile linked to ASD with the goal of improving the accuracy of its diagnosis and, in the medium-long term, its treatment and prevention. To this end, we employed Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to interrogate aqueous solutions and microdrops of blood serum deposited and dried on solid substrates and withdrawn from ASD subjects and healthy controls.

Moreover, we will discuss the effect on the intensity of LIBS spectra intensity, and on the consequent classification ability, of two substrate-modification methods for the analysis of trace elements, the first based on the generation of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS), the second based on the substrate functionalization with noble-metal nanoparticles, prior to the LIBS analysis of the deposited fluids.

[1] J.K. Kern et al, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology 38 (2016) 8