LAUSR

Small particles of any kind embedded in organic material, be that toxic nanoparticles, calcifications, or markers down to the atomic level can be identified and analyzed by EDS. Even single atoms as light as S and Si on carbonaceous material are accessible by high-end techniques [1]. We show that the evaluation of the element distribution in combinations of soft and hard materials or light and heavy elements is routinely possible on a quantitative level in one single experiment, suitable preparation techniques provided. In situ element analysis in liquid or gas using EDS has been demonstrated as well [2]. However, the options to usefully complement light microscopy techniques established in life science with EDS need to be carefully investigated and chosen. We explain some of the possibilities, which could inspire new marking and immuno-labelling techniques using materials easily distinguishable by EDS or could just enable e.g. mapping the chemical composition of tissue, resin embedded cells (Fig.1) or of new porous biocompatible medical implant surfaces, decorated with nanoparticles to avoid infection [3].