Progress and challenges of mid-infrared spectroscopy for liver characterization focusing on steatosis, fibrosis and cancer

Abstract

This review focuses on the latest developments in the characterization of liver abnormalities using infrared (IR) or Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and microspectroscopy. Results from preclinical and clinical studies show that these technological advances hold potential for the identification and characterization of liver abnormalities, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), fibrosis, and tumors, through analysis of body fluids or liver tissues. The review also discusses the potential of hyperspectral IR microscopy for liver spectropathology and identifies key factors that would facilitate the translation of this promising research into clinical applications, particularly in the field of liver transplantation.

Keywords:

• infrared spectroscopy (IR)
• Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)
• microspectroscopy
• imaging
• liver transplantation
• nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

IT and JK work acknowledges the financial support by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III [grant numbers CD19/00176 and CPII21/00003] (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund “A way to make Europe”). MMT acknowledges the award of the grant IJC2018-036209-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. D.P.-G. and MMT acknowledge the financial support of the Ramón y Cajal (RYC) Contract Aids (RYC2019-026556-I and RYC2021-031346-I) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FSE “El FSE invierte en tu futuro’’. D.P.-G. acknowledge the grant RPID2020-119326RA-I0 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. GQ acknowledges grant PID2021-125573OB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ERDF A way of making Europe.