Terahertz wave techniques using a metal mesh for evaluating the components of the stratum corneum.
OBJECTIVE
Terahertz waves are located in the region of the spectrum between milliwaves and infrared. We analyzed the feasibility of terahertz spectroscopy to inspect the compositional variations of the stratum corneum (SC).


METHODS
We used a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system with the metal mesh technique. To investigate whether terahertz can inspect compositional variation of SC, we measured the terahertz frequency spectra of the SC sheet that was treated with chloroform-methanol, lipid mixture, a denaturation agent, and heating with hot air.


RESULTS
The chloroform-methanol treatment of the SC shifted the dip position, which represents a convex downward shape of the spectra, to a higher frequency. This dip shift was reversed to an untreated position by the dose-dependent application of a lipid mixture. The heating treatment of the SC shifted the dip position to a higher frequency. The same dip shift was also induced by the application of a denaturation agent to the SC.


CONCLUSIONS
The technique using terahertz waves with a metal mesh is effective because of its simplicity and its high degree of accuracy in detecting the amount of lipid and the protein conformation state.
POLA Chemical Industries, Inc, 560 Kashio-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, 224-0812, Japan. k-mizukoshi@pola.co.jp
Koji
K
Mizukoshi
Kazuki
K
Yonekura
Hidehiro
H
Ogura
Yu
Y
Guan
Kodo
K
Kawase
D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002725:Chloroform / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004817:Epidermis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008055:Lipids / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals; D000432:Methanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012997:Solvents / Q000494:pharmacology; D055053:Terahertz Radiation; D055068:Terahertz Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
D008055:Lipids; D008670:Metals; D011506:Proteins; D012997:Solvents; D002725:Chloroform; D000432:Methanol