Compositional Assessment of Human Tracheal Cartilage by Infrared Spectroscopy. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Linkov, Gary; Hanifi, Arash; Yousefi, Farzad; Tint, Derrick; Bolla, Sudheer; Marchetti, Nathanial; Soliman, Ahmed M. S.; Pleshko, Nancy
• Is Part Of: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery. Volume 158:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 688
• Page End: 694
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: NIR -- FTIR -- infrared spectroscopy -- trachea -- cartilage -- tissue engineering -- collagen; Head -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Neck -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51
• DOI: 10.1177/0194599817752310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0194-5998

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the potential of infrared fiber-optic spectroscopy to evaluate the compositional properties of human tracheal cartilage. Study Design: Laboratory-based study. Methods: Twenty human cadaveric distal tracheas were harvested (age range 20-78 years; 6 females, 14 males) for compositional analysis. Histologic staining, Fourier transform infrared imaging spectroscopy data on collagen and proteoglycan (PG) content, and near-infrared (NIR) fiber-optic probe spectroscopic data that reflect protein and water content were evaluated. NIR fiber-optic probe data were also obtained from the proximal trachea in 4 human cadavers (age range 51-65 years; 2 females, 2 males) in situ for comparison to distal trachea spectral data. Results: In the distal trachea cohort, the spectroscopic-determined ratio of PG/amide I, indicative of the relative amount of PG, was significantly higher in the tissues from the younger group compared to the older group (0.37 ± 0.08 vs 0.32 ± 0.05, P = .05). A principal component analysis of the NIR spectral data enabled separation of spectra based on tracheal location, likely due to differences in both protein and water content. The NIR-determined water content based on the 5200-cm −1 peak was significantly higher in the distal trachea compared to the proximal trachea ( P < .001). Conclusions: Establishment of normative compositional values and further elucidating differences between the segments of trachea will enable more directed research toward appropriate compositional end points in regenerative medicine for tracheal repair.