Abstract
Diagnosis of articular cartilage pathology in the early disease stages using current clinical diagnostic imaging modalities is challenging, particularly because there is often no visible change in the tissue surface and matrix content, such as proteoglycans (PG). In this study, we propose the use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to spatially map PG content in articular cartilage. The relationship between NIR spectra and reference data (PG content) obtained from histology of normal and artificially induced PG-depleted cartilage samples was investigated using principal component (PC) and partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. Significant correlation was obtained between both data (R(2) = 91.40%, p<0.0001). The resulting correlation was used to predict PG content from spectra acquired from whole joint sample, this was then employed to spatially map this component of cartilage across the intact sample. We conclude that NIR spectroscopy is a feasible tool for evaluating cartilage contents and mapping their distribution across mammalian joint.
Highlights
Articular cartilage is a connective tissue covering the ends of diarthrodial joints with specialized biomechanical functions of load-bearing and stress transmission to the underlying bone
This study focuses on the potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to provide quantitative information on articular cartilage structure, with regards to proteoglycan content, and how this could facilitate spatial imaging of the tissue during arthroscopy
The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate the potential of NIR spectroscopy to facilitate fast quantitative evaluation and spatial mapping of articular cartilage PG content
Summary
Articular cartilage is a connective tissue covering the ends of diarthrodial joints with specialized biomechanical functions of load-bearing and stress transmission to the underlying bone. Several regenerative and repair techniques [4] have been proposed for treating this condition; the choice of treatment and effectiveness of surgical outcome depends strongly upon the availability of accurate sub-surface matrix information that transcends visual appraisal This level of information is necessary to determine the extent of tissue degeneration from the lesion sites in order to optimize the amount of tissue removed during repair surgery. MRI is non-rapid and relatively expensive; while mid-IR spectroscopy has limited depth of penetration (in the microns), making it impractical for deep tissue probing These methods cannot provide the level of accuracy and reliability possible with histological evaluation of cartilage biopsies, a method limited due to its destructive nature. This study focuses on the potential of NIR spectroscopy to provide quantitative information on articular cartilage structure, with regards to proteoglycan content, and how this could facilitate spatial imaging of the tissue during arthroscopy
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