Laser-induced breakdown spectrometry for the Se nanoparticles determination in plants

Selenium is an essential trace element which plays a crucial role in the physiological and metabolic processes of living organisms and plants. In recent years, there has been an increase in research focused on the use of selenium nanoparticles in agriculture and the food industry to manage selenium levels as fertilizers and to enhance the biological properties of plants. However, selenium toxicity can lead to undesirable consequences due to incorrect dosage selection, making it important to have techniques that allow for the quantitative assessment of this element in plant-based objects. This study demonstrates the potential application of laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS) for the quantitative determination of selenium nanoparticles in plants.