A new technique called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) has, for the first time, measured the chemical composition of human bone through unbroken skin, using only harmless light. Current bone health diagnostics, such as DXA scans, rely on X-rays that can only detect the mineral component of bone. But bone strength depends largely on its protein structure—collagen—which is invisible to X-rays. This means doctors cannot directly assess the quality of bone tissue, only its density. SORS fills that gap by safely probing the molecular chemistry several millimetres beneath the skin, revealing both mineral and protein content. If the research succeeds, it could transform how osteoporosis and brittle bone disease are diagnosed. Instead of measuring bone density alone, clinicians could assess actual bone quality early, before fractures occur. The technique is also applicable to other tissues, and to non-medical uses such as quality control in pharmaceuticals, paints, and food packaging. The work is still at the proof-of-concept stage—spectra have been obtained but not yet linked to specific diseases—so the immediate impact is on fundamental understanding of how to extract clinically useful information from subsurface Raman signals.
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The proposed activity is part of an exciting programme of international and multi-disciplinary work developing Raman spectroscopy of skeletal tissues for clinical use; measured for the first time through the unbroken skin. We are initially targeting bone in patients with osteoporosis, but this novel technology is applicable to other tissues and conditions. This project will add value to our work with three major associated developments: optimisation of bone spectroscopy through skin (both temporally and spatially-resolved techniques); identification of major spectral features that are associated with bone strength; and improving fracture risk predictions in comparison to the current standard DXA scans. A major problem our Society faces as a consequence of continual advances in healthcare and increasing wealth is enhanced life expectancy. With this the ability to enjoy a healthy and active ageing is often compromised by painful long lasting degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Indeed the Government is keen on prevention through ealry diagnosis and lifestyle changes, health ageing is a National Government priority.Current techniques used to identify the major degenerative skeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are based on imaging using X-ray radiation (DXA scanning, CT scans and Radiography). These technologies are limited as they rely on imaging the mineral component of the bone tissue, the mechanical strength of bone,however, is determined largely by the protein component, predominantly collagen type I and this is invisible to X-ray techniques.Bone tissue is a composite material comprising an inorganic mineral crystal component and an organic proteinaceous fibre component. The mineral fraction largley determines the stiffness of the material and the fibre component the strength.Many bone diseases and age related changes to the skeleton arise as a consequence of changes in the protein chemistry, either as a consequence of the genetic make up of an indivudual or the mechanical loading of the bone itself.Recently our collaborative team has developed a new revolutionary technique capable of determining bone tissue composition non-invasively through patients' skin. The concept, Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), enables safe characterisation of tissue in vivo at depths of several millimetres. This is by at least an order of magnitude deeper than that possible with conventional Raman methods. Our breakthrough paves the way for the development of safe techniques for the early diagnosis of diseases where subtle molecular details within tissue can provide indicators of health problems, for example, the non-invasive diagnosis of genetic bone disease such as brittle bone disease and degenerative conditions such as arthritis. Other analytical applications include the probing of pharmaceutical products in depth and through coatings and packaging, the subsurface probing of paints, food products and security screening. The research project is enhanced through a strong cross-disciplinary science component opening a new branch of Raman spectroscopy with strong potential for commercial exploitation of research outcomes. Our research has permitted us to obtain the first Raman spectra of human bone in vivo under totally safe conditions (2 mW) as a basic proof of concept. Although as yet unoptimised the available information can be contrasted with that obtainable using conventional X-ray techniques such as DEXA which only yield the density of the mineral component. The extra information contained in Raman spectra holds promise for the characterisation of bone diseases such as osteoporosis or brittle bone disease. To realise this goal, further research is now needed to increase the penetration depth and establish a firm link between Raman spectra and specific bone diseases. This proposal has the potential to develop a new diagnostic modality in modern medicine.
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