Fluorescence Spectra as a Possible Marker of the Wound Healing in vivo – Experimental Study

Overview

Each tissue in organism, including the skin, has a specific set of fluorophores. Metabolic changes during the healing process are related to changes in the configuration of fluorophores as well as fluorescent spectra.

The aim of this study was to find out if the fluorescence spectroscopy could be used for wound healing monitoring.

Female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 14) were used in this experiment. Two parallel full thicknes skin incisions were done on the back of each experimental animal and immediately sutured under aseptic conditions. Synchronous fluorescent spectra of skin wounds were measured using the luminiscent spectrometer LS 55 (Perkin-Elmer) in 24 hour intervals during the first three days of healing.

In synchronous fluorescent spectra for Δλ₁ = 30 nm, Δλ₂ = 60 nm a Δλ₃ = 90 nm in excitation maxima 350 nm, 365 nm and 450 nm the statistically significant increase of fluorescence intesity was registered. This study proves the possibility how to describe the inflammatory phase of acute skin wound healing using the fluorescence spectroscopy in vivo. However, further detailed experimental and clinical studies are needed before we can apply these results into the clinical practice.

Key words:
spectral fluorescence – wound healing – synchronous fluorescence spectra – diagnosis