Raman spectroscopy of x-ray irradiated blood plasma: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Analytical Chemistry
• Radiation Biology

Background:

• Biodosimetry is crucial for retrospective radiation dose assessment using biological indicators.
• Current biodosimetry methods require significant time and technical expertise, necessitating high-throughput alternatives.
• Developing rapid, accurate methods is essential for effective radiation exposure management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel high-throughput technique for biodosimetry using Raman spectroscopy (RS).
• To classify ex vivo irradiated blood plasma samples based on X-ray dose (0, 5, and 20 Gy).
• To identify potential Raman spectral biomarkers for radiation dose discrimination.

Main Methods:

• Peripheral blood plasma from nine donors was exposed to X-ray doses (0, 5, 20 Gy).
• Raman spectra were acquired from plasma samples using a custom benchtop micro-spectroscopy setup.
• Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and a linear mixed-effects model were used for data analysis and covariate adjustment.

Main Results:

• The PLS-DA model, after covariate adjustment, significantly improved the separation between radiation dose groups (0 vs 5 Gy and 0 vs 20 Gy).
• Raman spectral biomarkers associated with dose discrimination were identified by analyzing PLS-DA loading vectors.
• Sparse PLS-DA showed promise for pinpointing specific spectral regions indicative of radiation dose.

Conclusions:

• Raman spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis offers a promising high-throughput approach for biodosimetry.
• The developed method allows for classification of radiation doses and identification of potential spectral biomarkers.
• This technique has the potential to accelerate retrospective dosimetry and improve radiation exposure assessment.