Spatially resolved IR microspectroscopy of single cells

Fourier transform IR (FTIR) microspectroscopy at a spatial resolution of 18 microm was used to study skin fibroblasts and giant sarcoma cells. Both cell lines were derived from the same patient; they were metabolically active and in the exponentially growing phase. The IR spectra were acquired for the nuclei and cytosol of untreated cells, cells washed with ethanol, and cells treated with RNase or DNase. A comparison of the spectra of the two cell lines yielded only insignificant spectral differences, indicating that IR spectroscopy monitors the overall cell activity rather than specific signs of cancer.