Micro-Raman Spectroscopy for Assessment of Periodontal Disease Follow-Up

The aim of this study was to investigate the potentiality of the Micro-Raman spectroscopy in a follow up of the periodontal disease by performing a clinical not invasive sample collection method. Samples of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from informed periodontal and health patients were pooled. Specifically, the gingival crevicular fluid was collected with #30 standardized sterile absorbent paper cones inserted 1 mm into the gingival crevice and left in situ for 30 s [1]. The intra-oral clinical examinations were performed on one buccal site per maxillary central incisor. Each sample was tested by micro-Raman spectrometry. Raman spectra showed the presence of carotene in GCF periodontal patient's samples. With osteopotin, the carotene is expected to be correlates in crevicular fluid and salive with periodontal disease [2]. An automatic numerical data treatment based on wavelet algorithm was used in order to suppress the non-correlated signal, to subtract the background signal and to increase the quantitative readability of the Raman signal [3]. Micro-Raman spectroscopy is a very promising tool for medical applications, for its sensitivity to subtle changes in the chemical and structural characteristics of biological specimens [4]. [1] G. Perinetti, M. Paolantonio, B. Femminella, E. Serra, G. Spoto. G, J Periodontol 79 (2008) , 1200. [2] C.G. Sharma, A.R. Pradeep. J Periodont Res 42(2007) 450.[3] C. Camerlingo, F. Zenone, G.M. Gaeta, R. Riccio, M. Lepore. Meas Sci Technol 17 (2006) 298. [4] C. Camerlingo, F. Zenone, G. Perna, V. Capozzi, N. Cirillo, G.M. Gaeta, M. Lepore. . Sensors 8 (2008) 3656-64.