Over the past decade, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has emerged as a valuable tool for imaging and quantifying the elemental composition of biological tissues1. Chemical elements play critical roles in various pathologies, including cancers, lung diseases, and conditions linked to overexposure, such as lead poisoning. LIBS offers significant potential for enhancing diagnostic capabilities in these and other diseases by enabling precise, element-specific imaging. Furthermore, LIBS facilitates quantitative imaging, providing insights into the spatial distribution of elements within tissues. However, a key challenge remains: the need for matrix-matched calibrators to accurately quantify elemental concentrations at the pixel level. Additionally, demonstrating the clinical relevance of LIBS without compromising analytical performance is crucial for its broader adoption.

In this study, we developed multi-element matrix-matched calibrators using real formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) organ tissues to generate calibration curves for key elements of interest, including aluminum (Al), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), silicon (Si), and titanium (Ti). Moreover, we applied the first medical LIBS imaging system to visualize the elemental composition of various animal and human tissue samples, encompassing fields such as neurology, dermatology, and oncology. The results demonstrate LIBS as a promising complementary tool for medical pathology, with potential applications in disease diagnosis. To ensure its suitability for clinical environments, we validated the LIBS system's analytical performance in terms of repeatability and reproducibility. Our findings confirm the robustness and reliability of this innovative technique, positioning LIBS as a valuable asset for elemental imaging in biomedical applications.