Investigation of Biosubjects with Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Medical Diagnostics
• Healthcare Technology

Background:

• Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is a valuable technique for analyzing biological samples.
• Visible and near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers offer complementary spectral information.
• Understanding hydration and dehydration processes is crucial in biological and medical contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and utilize a portable DRS apparatus for investigating biological subjects.
• To assess the capability of visible and NIR DRS in characterizing various biological products.
• To evaluate the potential of NIR absorption with DRS for monitoring oxidation, dehydration, and hydration levels.

Main Methods:

• Assembly of a portable spectrometric apparatus with visible and NIR spectrometers.
• Measurement of direct visible DRS for diverse fruits and peppers.
• Monitoring of apple slice oxidation and dehydration using NIR absorption with DRS.
• Assessment of human skin hydration levels using NIR absorption with DRS after mask application.

Main Results:

• Each biological item exhibited a distinctive visible DRS curve.
• Visible DRS analysis of time-dependent changes in apple slices was challenging.
• NIR absorption with DRS successfully monitored apple slice dehydration stages.
• NIR absorption with DRS effectively monitored human skin hydration levels.

Conclusions:

• DRS is a versatile tool for characterizing various biological products.
• NIR absorption with DRS is effective for monitoring dehydration and hydration in biological samples.
• DRS shows significant promise for applications in biochemistry, medical diagnosis, and healthcare.