title: Evaluation and quantification of spectral information in tissue by confocal microscopy.
abstract: A confocal imaging and image processing scheme is introduced to visualize and evaluate the spatial distribution of spectral information in tissue. The image data are recorded using a confocal laser-scanning microscope equipped with a detection unit that provides high spectral resolution. The processing scheme is based on spectral data, is less error-prone than intensity-based visualization and evaluation methods, and provides quantitative information on the composition of the sample. The method is tested and validated in the context of the development of dermal drug delivery systems, introducing a quantitative uptake indicator to compare the performances of different delivery systems is introduced. A drug penetration study was performed in vitro. The results show that the method is able to detect, visualize and measure spectral information in tissue. In the penetration study, uptake efficiencies of different experiment setups could be discriminated and quantitatively described. The developed uptake indicator is a step towards a quantitative assessment and, in a more general view apart from pharmaceutical research, provides valuable information on tissue composition. It can potentially be used for clinical in vitro and in vivo applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen-University of Applied Sciences, Wiesenstraße 14, 35390 Gießen, Germany. ulf.maeder@kmub.thm.de
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Maeder
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmidts
authors.forename: Johannes T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Heverhagen
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Runkel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiebich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010078:Oxazines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D010078:Oxazines; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; C044808:nile red