Abstract:

Recent advances in vibrational spectroscopy have provided new insights into the molecular composition and structural organization of biological tissues. Infrared spectroscopy, a label-free and often nondestructive technique, is particularly well-suited for assessing the extracellular matrix (ECM) in normal, developing, aging, pathological, and therapeutically treated tissues. This presentation will explore novel infrared spectroscopic modalities for musculoskeletal tissue analysis, including fiber-optic approaches and sub-micron optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. Conventional gold-standard methods for evaluating tissue composition and integrity—such as histology, biochemical assays, and mechanical testing—are inherently destructive, limiting their use for real-time monitoring of tissue development. In contrast, fiber-optic spectroscopy enables non-destructive in situ assessment of engineered cartilage, facilitating the definition of appropriate compositional endpoints during growth. Similarly, transcutaneous near-infrared spectroscopy is being investigated as a non-invasive tool for transcutaneous evaluation of bone quality.

Additionally, O-PTIR spectroscopy represents a breakthrough in infrared imaging by surpassing the traditional diffraction limit, enabling spectral data collection at 500 nm resolution from intact tissues. Data related to bone pathology applications will be presented, highlighting the potential of this technique for high-resolution tissue analysis. Overall, this talk will discuss the applications of vibrational spectroscopy for non-destructive tissue assessment and imaging, with an emphasis on its translational potential for clinical applications.

Biography:  

Dr. Nancy Pleshko is a Laura H. Carnell Professor in the Department of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She received her BSc degree in Chemistry from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and her PhD in Chemistry from Rutgers University, NJ, in the field of spectroscopic applications to biomineralization.  She was the director of the Musculoskeletal Imaging and Spectroscopy Laboratory at the Hospital for Special Surgery, an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical School in New York City, for 15 years prior to joining Temple University in 2009.  

Dr. Pleshko’s research program focuses on assessment of tissues at the molecular, cellular, and structural level through application and development of optical spectroscopic approaches in concert with complementary techniques. Her research program encompasses basic and translational research in connective tissue pathophysiology, including osteoarthritis and cartilage repair, tissue engineering, osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta. She is a Fellow of the Orthopedic Research Society and of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), has received continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1997 and has published over 170 peer-reviewed articles.

~ BME Host: Rachel Surowiec ~

Zoom Link: https://purdue-edu.zoom.us/j/95301457637

Students registered for the seminar are expected to attend in-person.

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