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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach
Published on: September 26, 2019
Determination of natural moisturizing factors in the skin: Raman microspectroscopy versus HPLC
S A Koppes1,2, P Kemperman3,4, I Van Tilburg1
1a Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
Background:
Natural moisturizing factor (NMF) is used as genotypic and phenotypic biomarker in diagnostics. This study is a side-to-side comparison of two different methods to determine NMF in atopic dermatitis patients: Raman microspectroscopy and stratum corneum tape stripping followed by HPLC.
Results:
Measured NMF values were significantly correlated (R2 = .61; p < .0001), both methods demonstrated a concentration-depth dependence of NMF and reduced NMF levels in the carriers of filaggrin null mutations. Good agreement between measurements of left and right arms indicated robustness and good reproducibility of both methods.
Conclusions:
Both methods showed comparable performance, choice of method will rather be influenced by practical consideration.
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