ASSESSMENT OF INFRARED SPECTRAL VARIATION OF AGE AND GENDER OF NORMAL HUMAN SALIVA.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The composition of saliva can change with age, and these changes may be reflected in the infrared spectral characteristics. Factors such as hormonal changes, overall health, and diet can contribute to these variations.Gender-related differences in saliva composition may also manifest as spectral variations. Hormonal differences between males and females, as well as potential variations in the abundance of certain biomolecules, could contribute to these differences.Molecular identification: FTIR spectroscopy allows for the identification and characterization of different chemical functional groups present in a sample. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy provides enhanced sensitivity to surface layers and thin films due to the interaction of infrared light with the sample at the crystal-sample interface. It allows for the detection and characterization of surface contaminants, coatings, or modifications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The investigated group included 4 healthy female volunteers and 4 healthy male volunteers whose salivary samples were freshly collected. Then, about 5 ml of whole saliva into the sterile tubes.Subsequently, all materials were frozen at −20 °C until analysis time.Samples are freeze dried in lyophilizer (to make it as powder or solid form).The freeze dried samples were dissolved in methanol and samples were analyzed in ATR-FTIR.In ATR-FTIR method, the salivary samples were additionally dried on optical slides.

DISCUSSION: The spectral band pattern of human saliva samples showed major variations among male and female samples.Comparing to male samples female samples showed more spectral band variation between 900 to 1750 cm-1.The peak observed at spectral interval between 2800 to 3500 cm-1.Originate from C-H, O-H and N-H stretching modes of proteins while strong banded at 3250 cm-1 is attributed to amide A (N-H) stretching.Nevertheless ,due to the fact that most of the salivary proteins are glycosylated , these peaks can be attributed to glycosylated alpha amylase, mucin or other sugar residue vibrations.

CONCLUSION: Study can be further investigated to a broad scale of different age and time intervals among healthy and unhealthy people.From this study that has been carried out , we can conclude that saliva can be regarded as a first line diagnostic tool in patients who are suspicious of salivary gland tumors.