Isotooppimerkintöjä

Isotooppimerkintöjä, known in English as isotope labeling or isotopic labeling, refers to the practice of incorporating one or more isotopes of a chemical element into a molecule. This labeling can be done using stable isotopes, which do not undergo radioactive decay, or radioactive isotopes, which do. The primary purpose of isotope labeling is to trace the path and fate of a substance within a biological, chemical, or physical system.

Stable isotope labeling commonly uses isotopes like deuterium (²H), carbon-13 (¹³C), nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N), and oxygen-18 (¹⁸O). These labeled compounds are indistinguishable from their unlabeled counterparts in terms of chemical reactivity and biological function, making them ideal for tracing metabolic pathways or structural analysis without altering the system being studied. Techniques such as mass spectrometry are then used to detect and quantify the presence of these heavier isotopes.

Radioactive isotope labeling uses isotopes that emit detectable radiation, such as tritium (³H), carbon-14 (¹⁴C), or phosphorus-32 (³²P). These labels are highly sensitive and can be detected at very low concentrations. Radioactive labeling is widely used in biochemical research, medical imaging (radiopharmaceuticals), and environmental studies to track the movement and distribution of substances. However, due to the inherent radioactivity, safety precautions are necessary during handling and disposal.

The applications of isotooppimerkintöjä are vast, spanning fields like drug development, environmental science, materials science, and fundamental research in chemistry and biology. It provides a powerful tool for understanding complex processes by following specific atoms or molecules through a system.