Quantitative analysis of chemical components in biological fluids by Infrared spectroscopy

Even though, infrared spectroscopy has been used during the past 50 years in the analysis of protein structure and to probe lipid/membrane structure and dynamics, it has not been vigorously pursued as an analytical tool in qiuantitative analysis of chemic al components in biological systems. This is perhaps due to the complexity of both the systems under investigation and the spectra they produced as well as instrumental limitations. Recent advances in the infrared instrumentation, sampling and data proces sing techniques enable one with unprecedented amount of information to be recorded and then decoded from infrared spectra. The aim of the project that is to be undertaken during the sabbatical year is to use the new infrared instrumentation, sampling an d data processing techniques to develop methodology for the analysis of chemical components in biological fluids. Application of infrared spectroscopy in the quantitation of analytes; glucose, protein, urea and creatinine in urine, and glucose and protein in blood serum are intended to be studied during this period. Currently, these analytes are determined by colourimetric measurements using an automated clinical chemistry analyser. The method is time consuming, uses expensive chemicals and it can only be used to determine one analyte at a time.