Analysis of biological systems exposed to pesticides by Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS)

• Grant number: 21/13884-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 30, 2022
• End date: August 29, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Aldo Eloizo Job
• Grantee: Rafael Jesus Gonçalves Rubira
• Supervisor: Juan Carlos Otero
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/05423-0 - Detection of pesticides (cocktails) used in sugarcane crops and their effect on biological systems, BP.PD

Abstract

This research internship abroad project (BEPE) is related to the postdoctoral project FAPESP 2020/05423-0, which involves the detection and effects of the pesticides Chlorantraniliprole, Isoxaflutol, Imazapique, Methyl Parathion, and Simazine on biological systems. The high consumption of pesticides causes irreversible damage to human health, such as carcinogenesis, and to the environment, contaminating the soil and, mainly, groundwater and water sources. According to a report by the United Nations (UN), it is estimated that around 200,000 people die each year in the world as victims of acute poisoning by pesticides. Therefore, this study will aim to verify the effect of the pesticides Chlorantraniliprole, Isoxaflutol, Imazapique, Methyl Parathion and Simazine on the liver, cardiac, and muscle tissue, analyzed by the CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy) microscopy technique. This technique will complement the studies under development of the Post-doctoral research project (n° 2020/05423-0), helping to understand the effect of pesticides on human liver epithelial cells (HeP G2) and on the liver, muscle, cardiac (heart), and gill tissues of fish of the species Oreochromis niloticus (Tilapia). In addition to this study, we will carry out micro-Raman spectroscopy/imaging studies combined with SERS (Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) in order to check the powerfulness of this technique for detecting these kinds of pollutants. For that, we will have the collaboration of Prof. Dr. Carlos Juan Otero (Letter from the BEPE supervisor and University attached to SAGE) from the University of Malaga, Spain. (AU)