title: Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging analysis of dental pulp inflammatory diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fourier Transform Infrared microspectroscopy let characterize the macromolecular composition and distribution of tissues and cells, by studying the interaction between infrared radiation and matter. Therefore, we hypothesize to exploit this analytical tool in the analysis of inflamed pulps, to detect the different biochemical features related to various degrees of inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  IR maps of 13 irreversible and 12 hyperplastic pulpitis, together with 10 normal pulps, were acquired, compared with histological findings and submitted to multivariate (HCA, PCA, SIMCA) and statistical (one-way ANOVA) analysis. The fit of convoluted bands let calculate meaningful band area ratios (means ± s.d., P < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The infrared imaging analysis pin-pointed higher amounts of water and lower quantities of type I collagen in all inflamed pulps. Specific vibrational markers were defined for irreversible pulpitis (Lipids/Total Biomass, PhII/Total Biomass, CH2/CH3, and Ty/AII) and hyperplastic ones (OH/Total Biomass, Collagen/Total Biomass, and CH3Collagen/Total Biomass).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirmed that FTIR microspectroscopy let discriminate tissues' biological features. The infrared imaging analysis evidenced, in inflamed pulps, alterations in tissues' structure and composition. Changes in lipid metabolism, increasing amounts of tyrosine, and the occurrence of phosphorylative processes were highlighted in irreversible pulpitis, while high amounts of water and low quantities of type I collagen were detected in hyperplastic samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0503-5870
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giorgini
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rocchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatologic and Specialized Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatologic and Specialized Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Memè
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatologic and Specialized Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orilisi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy; biomarkers; imaging analysis; irreversible pulpitis; pulp polyp