Bioavailability and physiological traceability analysis

The bioavailability refers to the fraction of a substance which reaches the systematic circulation from the gastro-intestinal tract and which is available to promote its action in the exposed organism. Its evaluation requires therefore to be able to:

  • Quantify trace elements at low levels (< mg/kg) in biological fluids and tissues
  • Evaluate the speciation of the ingested elements in the same matrices to better understand the mechanisms involved
  • By default, evaluate the in-vitro bioaccessibility which indicates the maximum fraction theoretically released in the gastro-intestinal tract

The use of cutting-edge technology allows us to achieve this information and therefore is very helpful to identify intoxication markers, to establish absorption kinetics or to understand the metabolization mechanisms.

Question ? Contact us

Expertise

  • In-vitro simulation of digestive conditions
  • Trace metals analysis and speciation analysis in matrices such as blood, plasma, urine…
  • Development of compounds and/or samples specific analytical methods
  • Compilation, interpretation, scientific data popularization

Examples of works accomplished

  • Selenium speciation in blood, plasma, eggs, milk, meat, etc…
  • Bioaccessibility and bioavailability evaluation of copper, zinc and manganese glycinates in feed
  • Evaluation of the aluminum bioaccessibility in various food products
  • Arsenic and tin speciation in urine
  • Mercury speciation in blood and breast milk


  • Speciation of a Pt-based metallodrug in plasma to study the kinetic action of its degradation
  • Arsenic speciation in nails
  • Trace element determination in the blood of newborns

Analytical devices

ICP MS and ICP AES

Routine analytical devices for total metals content determination

Orbitrap and ESI QqQ MS/MS

Identification of new molecules and quantitative analysis

Coupling an elemental analyzer (ICP MS, ICP AES) with a separation technique (HPLC, GC, A4F)

Speciation analysis