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Measurement of optical properties to quantify healing of chronic diabetic wounds
Michael S Weingarten1, Elisabeth Papazoglou, Leonid Zubkov
1Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, USA. Michael.Weingarten@drexelmed.edu
Abstract:
Measurement of scattering and absorption characteristics of tissue by near infrared spectroscopy may provide a clinically applicable, quantitative method of assessing healing of diabetic wounds. Twenty SICH-1 hairless rats were divided into a control group and a streptozotocin-induced diabetic group. Full-thickness wounds were made on the dorsal surface of each animal. Wounds were examined using a near infrared device with three wavelengths of incident light. Amplitude and phase of scattered light were obtained at four different source detector distances at each wavelength. The probe was positioned at six different locations. Tissue absorption and scattering coefficients were calculated from amplitude and phase data. Wound dimensions were calculated by cross and parallel polarization. Thirty-eight wounds were evaluated during the experiment. Wound size decreased at twice the rate in the control animals, whereas the average absorption coefficient was higher by a factor of two while the average value of the reduced scattering coefficient was 30% higher in the diabetic wounds. During healing, both scattering and absorption coefficients increased faster in the diabetics. Higher absorption in diabetic rats suggests impaired blood flow. Scattering may reflect tissue disorganization observed in delayed wound healing. We conclude that near infrared spectroscopy may differentiate between healing diabetic and nondiabetic wounds.
Insights
Near-infrared spectroscopy quantifies tissue properties to assess diabetic wound healing. This method differentiates healing in diabetic versus nondiabetic wounds, identifying impaired blood flow and tissue disorganization.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Wound Healing Research
- Diabetic Complications
Background:
- Diabetic wounds exhibit delayed healing and altered tissue properties.
- Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a non-invasive method to probe tissue optical characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of NIRS in differentiating healing processes between diabetic and nondiabetic wounds.
- To correlate NIRS-derived tissue optical properties with wound healing status.
Main Methods:
- Full-thickness wounds were created in control and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
- Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure tissue absorption and scattering coefficients at three wavelengths.
- Wound dimensions were assessed, and optical properties were correlated with healing rates.
Main Results:
- Diabetic wounds showed significantly higher absorption (2x) and reduced scattering (30%) coefficients compared to control wounds.
- Both absorption and scattering coefficients increased faster during healing in diabetic rats.
- Wound size decreased at twice the rate in control animals compared to diabetic animals.
Conclusions:
- Near-infrared spectroscopy can quantitatively differentiate between healing diabetic and nondiabetic wounds.
- Elevated absorption suggests impaired blood flow in diabetic wounds.
- Increased scattering may indicate tissue disorganization in delayed wound healing.
