This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Vulnerable plaques are characterized by morphological features such as a thin or ulcerated fibrous cap, a large necrotic core, superficial foam cells, and intraplaque hemorrhage. We argue for the use of a multimodal spectroscopic method, comprising Raman, diffuse reflectance, and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, to detect these key morphological markers of vulnerable plaque. A preliminary study was performed in vitro on 17 human carotid artery specimens. Following the acquisition of the spectra, each specimen was histologically evaluated. It was determined that parameters obtained from diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, the hemoglobin concentration and the scattering parameter, can potentially be used to detect intraplaque hemorrhage and foam cells, respectively. A parameter extracted from the intrinsic fluorescence that relates to the amount of collagen in the topmost layers of the tissue can be used to sense the presence of a thin fibrous cap. Finally, a Raman spectroscopy parameter related to the amount of cholesterol and necrotic material can potentially be used to detect a necrotic core. The multimodal spectroscopy method shows great promise to provide depth-sensitive and complementary morphological information about plaque composition. A larger study is needed to further validate the potential for diagnosis of vulnerable plaque and this shall be the focus of our future work.
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