INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND ITS APPLICATION IN MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Infrared spectroscopy is a spectral research method based on the ability of molecules to absorb infrared radiation with a certain wavelength. Due to the fact that the absorption spectra for different substances are specific and unique, this method is used for the identification of substances, the study of materials, and the study of biomolecules, in particular in the medical field. Infrared spectroscopy serves a multifaceted role in various scientific applications: it is employed to assess the purity and composition of drugs; it enables studying the biochemical makeup of cells of various types, labeling transformed cells, facilitating photodynamic therapy, and exploring the dynamics of in vivo drug release. This method occupies a special place during surgical interventions to identify transformed cells and differentiate them from healthy ones. Thus, during a tumor resection operation, there are risks of excessive or insufficient removal of transformed tissues, which can cause complications, a prolonged period of postoperative intervention, or the absence of remission, in the case of an insufficiently removed tumor. In this case, infrared spectroscopy enables quick and accurate differentiating between healthy and pathological cells, this procedure is fast, accurate, and does not require lengthy sample preparation. Based on the indicators and the ratio of peak intensities, the use of FTIR spectroscopy enables to determine both the qualitative and quantitative composition of proteins and lipids in the transformed cells that can differ and depends on the distance to the tumor. Therefore, in order to introduce and standardize this procedure into surgical interventions and post-operative studies, it is essential to establish comprehensive catalogs of lipidomes and proteomes for various cell types, acquired through the application of infrared spectroscopy.