Objective:

To develop a sensitive and practical diagnostic tool for early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to analyze metallomic profiles, which refer to the abundance of metals in biological samples.

Key Findings:

• Altered metallomic profiles in ASD patients may enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis, potentially transforming current diagnostic practices.
• NELIBS has shown significant potential in intensifying LIBS signals, improving detection capabilities, which is essential for clinical application.
• Initial results indicate over 100-fold signal enhancement using new nanoparticle methods, highlighting the technique's promise.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that enhanced LIBS techniques could provide a non-invasive, portable, and cost-effective diagnostic tool for ASD, allowing for earlier intervention and more accurate differentiation from other neurological disorders, thereby improving patient care.

Limitations:

• Challenges remain in standardizing NELIBS for routine clinical use, which could hinder its widespread adoption.
• Further research is needed to fully understand and optimize the nanoparticle application, which is critical for ensuring reliability in clinical settings.

Conclusion:

The ELATED project aims to refine LIBS techniques to facilitate early ASD diagnosis, potentially transforming clinical practices and improving patient outcomes by enabling timely interventions.