title: Noninvasive Raman spectroscopy of rat tibiae: approach to in vivo assessment of bone quality.
abstract: We report on in vivo noninvasive Raman spectroscopy of rat tibiae using robust fiber-optic Raman probes and holders designed for transcutaneous Raman measurements in small animals. The configuration allows placement of multiple fibers around a rat leg, maintaining contact with the skin. Bone Raman data are presented for three regions of the rat tibia diaphysis with different thicknesses of overlying soft tissue. The ability to perform in vivo noninvasive Raman measurement and evaluation of subtle changes in bone composition is demonstrated with rat leg phantoms in which the tibia has carbonated hydroxylapatite, with different carbonate contents. Our data provide proof of the principle that small changes in bone composition can be monitored through soft tissue at anatomical sites of interest in biomedical studies.
authors.forename: Paul I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Okagbare
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Begun
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tecklenburg
authors.forename: Ayorinde
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awonusi
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013977:Tibia / Q000737:chemistry*; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite