Themed collection SPEC 2018: International Society of Clinical Spectroscopy

Welcome to the latest themed issue on the topic of Optical Diagnosis in Analyst, guest-edited by Dr. Matthew Baker.

Mid-infrared (MIR) fibre-optics may play a future role in in vivo diagnosis of disease, including cancer.

Quantum cascade lasers with high spectral power density and narrow band emission profiles provide novel access to biomedical applications.

This review examines the state-of-the-art of clinical applications of infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopy, outstanding challenges, and progress towards translation.

A way to incorporate SERS nanosensors on the end of an optical fibre that also allows for the extraction of bacterial samples.

First IR-SNOM images over the Amide I band taken in the centre of an oesophageal cancer cell.

Variable angle micro ATR-FTIR, via the insertion of circular apertures, was used to measure tissue samples at various penetration depths.

A novel photosensitiser, DC473, designed with solvatochromatic fluorescence and distinct Raman signal, is detected with tandem fluoRaman in SW480 cells.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) has a poor prognosis because of the lack of specific biomarkers and its late diagnosis.

Non-negative factorization analysis applied to spontaneous Brillouin microscopy maps of amyloid-beta plaques in a transgenic mouse model enables to resolve spatially distinct components with specific mechanical properties.

Pre-processing is an essential step in the analysis of spectral data.

This study demonstrates the efficacy and distribution of sorafenib in colon cancer cells by label-free Raman microscopy.

Binding sites of albumins on gold nanoparticles were characterized by surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

Gaining knowledge on the biochemical profile of primary endothelial cells on a subcellular level can contribute to better understanding of cardiovascular disease.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy has been applied to compare the effect of new organoamidoplatinum(II) complexes with cisplatin on cells from a cisplatin-sensitive and a cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line.

Translating Raman spectroscopy for colorectal cancer diagnosis with a focus on high-throughput design, inter-user variability and sample handling considerations.

A probe-based Raman spectroscopy system using a single laser module with two excitation wavelengths has been developed for measuring the fingerprint and high wavenumber regions with a single detector.

Oral injuries are currently diagnosed by histopathological analysis of biopsy, which is an invasive procedure and does not give immediate results.

Spectral information relevant to the quality of stored blood can be obtained in situ through sealed blood transfusion bags using a commercially available instrument.

An in vitro investigation of a quantum cascade laser-based transflection optofluidic interface for the continuous glucose monitoring in biofluids is presented with respect to its glucose sensitivity and specificity, its glucose exchange time, its resistance against temperature variations and its long-term stability.

This paper reviews methods to arrive at optimum decision tree or label tree structures to analyze large SHP datasets.

First near-field infrared spectroscopy and imaging of lymphocyte nucleus at 30 nm spatial resolution reveals spectrochemically distinct regions in nuclear organization.

This study explores the potential of Raman spectroscopy, coupled with multivariate regression techniques and ion exchange chromatography, to quantitatively monitor diagnostically relevant changes in high molecular weight proteins in liquid plasma.

One of the new targets of untapped therapeutic potential is perivascular adipose tissue (pVAT). Based on Raman spectroscopy we demonstrated that the lipid unsaturation degree was clearly distinct in various types of adipose tissues, in particular thoracic and abdominal pVATs, and was influenced by the age of animals.

We describe here the theoretical basis of the innovative tapping AFM-IR mode that can address novel challenges in imaging and chemical mapping of polymeric nanoparticles.

The investigation of blood plasma via¹H NMR metabolomics revealed a panel of potential biomarkers of pancreatic cancer.

PCA score of FTIR spectra in fingerprint region for cultured chondrocytes at day 7, 14 and 21 in HA hydrogel showing that the 3D culture drove chondrocytes (CY) to chondron-like (CN) structure dynamically.

Through tissue imaging of a live breast cancer tumour model using handheld surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS).

Plasma samples deposited on low-E slides were analysed in transmission mode by using a FT-NIR spectrometer in order to detect Alzheimer's disease using computer-based methods.

A method to acquire the Raman spectra of sub-surface components using diffusely focused radiation in a microscope sampling configuration is described.