Characterization of molecular dynamic changes in tissue model systems using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging

Endogenous and exogenous molecular dynamic changes in tissue model systems often provide essential information to improve our understanding of these systems. For instance, the endogenous changes within tumor tissues induced by interactions between tumor and stroma are not only indications of tumor initiation and progression for disease diagnosis and prevention purposes, but also an important piece of information for studying the underlying disease mechanisms. Similarly, studies of dynamics of exogenous molecules in biological systems, such as transdermal diffusion and mass transport across blood vessels, provide both theoretical and practical benefits. In order to study these dynamic changes, development of reasonable tissue models, clear characterization and understanding of these models and implementation of new technologies and methodologies are needed. Here, we propose to establish both 3-D in vitro tissue models and animal tissue models using the emerging FT-IR imaging technology combined with conventional biological and histological tools. These models are then examined for their chemical and biochemical stability, and used to monitor tumor-associated changes in stroma and cellular responses and transformations upon the stimulation from growth factors and mechanical stress in cellular microenvironment. Finally, these issue models are applied to development of new quantitative method to study the dynamic diffusion of exogenous molecules in skin and artery tissues using FT-IR imaging