Multivariate discrimination of heat shock proteins using a fiber optic Raman setup for in situ analysis of human perilymph

Raman spectroscopy has proven to be an effective tool for molecular analysis in different applications. In clinical diagnostics, its application has enabled nondestructive investigation of biological tissues and liquids. The human perilymph, for example, is an inner ear liquid, essential for the hearing sensation. The composition of this liquid is correlated with pathophysiological parameters and was analyzed by extraction and mass spectrometry so far. In this work, we present a fiber optic probe setup for the Raman spectroscopic sampling of inner ear proteins in solution. Multivariate data analysis is applied for the discrimination of individual proteins (heat shock proteins) linked to a specific type of hearing impairment. This proof-of-principle is a first step toward a system for sensitive and continuous in vivo perilymph investigation in the future.