Characterization of ionizing radiation effects on bone using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and multivariate analysis of spectra

Abstract

Ionizing radiation has been used as an important treatment and diagnostic method for several diseases. Optical techniques provides an efficient clinical diagnostic to support an accurate evaluation of the interaction of radiation with molecules. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) is a label-free and nondestructive optical technique that can recognize functional groups in biological samples. In this work, 30 fragments of bone were collected from bovine femur diaphysis. Samples were cut and polished until 1 cm x 1 cm x 1 mm, which were then stored properly in the refrigerated environment. Samples irradiation was performed with a Cobalt-60 Gammacell Irradiator source at doses of 0.1 kGy, 1 kGy, whereas the fragments exposed to dose of 15 kGy was irradiated in a multipurpose irradiator of Cobalt-60. Spectral data was submitted to principal component analysis followed by linear discriminant analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed with Principal component analysis(PCA) followed by Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) using MATLAB R2015a software (The Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). We demonstrated the feasibility of using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy associated with PCA-LDA multivariate technique to evaluate the molecular changes in bone matrix caused by different doses: 0.1 kGy, 1 kGy and 15 kGy. These alterations between the groups are mainly reported in phosphate region. Our results open up new possibilities for protein monitoring relating to dose responses.