Sains Malaysiana 46(1)(2017): 75–82
http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4601-10
Analysing Human Nails Composition by Using Laser
Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
(Analisis Komposisi Kuku Manusia Menggunakan
Spektroskopi Pemecahan Teraruh Laser)
HANIN ATHIRAH HARUN*, ROSLINDA ZAINAL
& YAACOB MAT DAUD
Physics Department,
Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor
Darul Takzim, Malaysia
Diserahkan: 30 Januari
2016/Diterima: 7 April 2016
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the elemental
composition of pathological and normal nails, according to different
age groups and genders. The nail elemental composition was analyzed
by using Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique. A Q-switched
Nd:YAG laser
at 1064 nm with output energy of 100 mJ, pulse duration of 6 ns
and repetition rate of 1 Hz was fired to the human nails sample.
The laser pulse ablated the target sample surface and produced plasma
plume with characteristic spectral line comprising sample's elemental
composition. The plasma emission spectrum of nail samples were captured
by fibre optic detection device and spectrometer equipped with ASEQ Spectra Software for elemental analysis. The elements
detected in nails were Mg, Al, Ca, P, Ti, K and Na. Classification
of nails into different age groups and genders demonstrate efficient
results if compared with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). The results indicate that
Ca, Al, Ti, P and K composition were higher among female. However,
Mg and Na were higher among male. The results also show that Ca
and K element decline as the age increase in both genders. The pathological
nails' elemental compositions were also noticeably related to the
nail disorder condition itself. It is proven that LIBS could be a possible method for analyzing
the nails and identification of various nail disorders.
Keywords: Biological sample;
elemental composition; laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS);
nail disorder; pathological nail
ABSTRAK
Penyelidikan
ini mengkaji komposisi unsur bagi kuku normal dan berpenyakit mengikut
perbezaan kumpulan umur dan jantina. Komposisi unsur kuku dianalisis dengan menggunakan teknik Spektroskopi
Pemecahan Teraruh Laser (LIBS). Laser Q-suis Nd:YAG 1064 nm dengan keluaran tenaga
100 mJ, tempoh denyutan 6 ns dan kadar pengulangan 1 Hz ditembak
pada kuku manusia. Laser yang terkena permukaan sampel akan
menghasilkan kepulan plasma yang mempunyai ciri garis spektrum tersendiri
dan terdiri daripada komposisi unsur sampel. Spektrum
pancaran plasma daripada sampel kuku ditangkap oleh alat gentian
optik dan spektrometer dilengkapi perisian ASEQ Spectra untuk analisis unsur.
Unsur yang dikesan di dalam kuku adalah Mg, Al, Ca, P, Ti, K dan
Na. Pengelasan kuku kepada perbezaan kumpulan umur dan jantina menunjukkan
keputusan yang bertepatan dengan Rujukan Pengambilan Makanan. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa komposisi Ca, Al, Ti, P dan K lebih
tinggi dalam kalangan perempuan. Walau
bagaimanapun, Mg dan Na lebih tinggi dalam kalangan lelaki.
Keputusan juga menunjukkan bahawa unsur Ca dan
K berkurangan dengan peningkatan umur bagi kedua-dua jantina.
Komposisi unsur kuku berpenyakit pula menunjukkan
kaitan yang jelas dengan keadaan masalah kuku itu sendiri.
Jadi, terbukti teknik LIBS merupakan kaedah berpotensi
untuk menganalisis kuku dan mengenal pasti pelbagai masalah kuku.
Kata kunci: Komposisi unsur; kuku bermasalah; kuku patologi;
sampel biologi; teknik spektroskopi pemecahan teraruh laser (LIBS)
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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: xiahanin@gmail.com
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