Spectral phasor analysis of NADH autofluorescence has been shown to be an effective approach to measuring cellular metabolism. Extending this technique to tissue samples offers a novel method for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of healthy and diseased states of tissue. However, complex light interactions within tissue offer a significant barrier to autofluorescence measurements. To characterize the effect of biomolecules on NADH autofluorescence, collagen was added in significant proportions to cell-suspension of S. cerevisiae and shown to have no significant impact on spectral phasor shift directionality after the addition of KCN. A protocol for conducting comparable laser-system based measurements using blood occlusion and temperature as the primary metabolic inhibitors is discussed for direct comparison to cell-suspension results. To demonstrate its potential use in a clinical setting, a design for a mobile spectrophotometer device is proposed. This LED-based design offers a cheaper alternative to a laser-based system while also improving on some technical limitations of the cumbersome lab system. By using a single-point probe, more versatile measurements can be made, allowing for measurements of large muscle groups not otherwise possible using the laser-measurement system. Engaging such large muscle groups with strenuous activity opens the possibility of monitoring increased metabolic activity in tissue. Future in vivo measurements using both the laser and LED-based systems will yield further insight into the use of spectral phasor analysis as a diagnostic tool.
Author: Andrew Rodriguez
Advisors: Dr. Paul Urayama, Dr. Karthik Vishwanath, Department of Physics
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