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A METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF METALS BY AUTOMETALOGRAPHY IN BIOLOGICAL TISSUE SAMPLES
ES2697922
The new method unifies fluorescence and autometallographic techniques and increases their sensitivity. Furthermore, it can be applied to samples of any type, which in the case of medicine can be, for example, cells, organs and tissues. The new method is characterized, among other aspects, by carrying out two incubations of the sample containing the metal to be detected with a fluorochrome and an intermediate stage of fixation of the samples. The metal can be any metal that can be detected by auto-metallography and for which specific fluorochromes are known, such as zinc, copper or mercury, although it can also be applied to iron, nickel, chromium, manganese.
Applications: The method of the present invention is useful in medicine, toxicology and contamination of heavy metals in food, and can be applied to any metal that can be detected by auto-metallography, including zinc, for example. In the specific case of zinc, its detection in tissues can help to diagnose the state of cells as a consequence of diseases, injuries or intoxications. Advantages: The main advantages of the invention are: Improvement in the sensitivity of the detection limits of existing autometallography methods, which allows obtaining information with a higher quality level. High stabilization of the endosomes with metals and reduction of the loss of marking. Application in all types of samples.