FTIR/ATR

Project objectives

Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is one of the best and most promising techniques for the structural analysis of complex and/or multiphase systems. This research project used ATR-FTIR to identify infiltration substances commonly referred to as "fillers" and used for lip augmentation. Filler samples were collected from several patients who had developed adverse reactions. Each sample was subjected to ATR-FTIR analysis, recording the spectra with a Nicolet Nexus 8700 Esp spectrophotometer using the ATR for attenuated total reflectance analysis with an ATR Golden Gate MK II diamond crystal (Specac). For this analysis, the samples were placed directly on the specular microreflection analysis platform of the ATR cell. The spectra of the surrounding soft tissue and of common fillers such as hydroxyapatite, silicone oil (PDMS), and hyaluronic acid were recorded as reference. The results of this research, published in the American journal of the sector, constitute the first application of a new technique for the determination of substances infiltrating biological tissues through which it was possible to highlight substances that could not be identified with normal immunohistochemical techniques.

Start and end date

2008 - 2011

Project Manager

Prof. Paolo Persichetti (Director of the Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Unit - Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital)

prof Marcella Trombetta (Director of the Chemistry and Biomaterials Laboratory)

Coordinating institution of the project

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Plastic Surgery and Dermatology Unit

Other Institutions involved

Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Laboratory of Chemistry and Biomaterials