The effect of abnormal cell shape on the spectral distinguishing of erythrocytes using laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy

: Erythrocyte is a mature blood cell that contains hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the bodily tissues. Erythrocyte, which takes on a biconcave disc that has no nucleus, is flexible and changeful. Erythrocyte is so sensitive to the environment that the shape of cell goes crimpy, even acanthoid. A laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) setup was used to trap single erythrocyte from healthy donors and patients with thalassemia and to collect the Raman scattering of trapping cell. Normal shape, crimpy erythrocytes and acanthoid erythrocytes were tested, and the averaged spectra, and principal component analysis (PCA) which detailed the spectral difference and the change of hemoglobin, were used to evaluate the effects of different cell shape on the spectral distinguishing of erythrocyte. The results reveal that in normal physiological environment the change in cell shape does not effect the spectral distinguishing of abnormal erythrocyte.