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Combination of FTIR spectroscopy with fiber optics provides a powerful diagnostic tool for diagnosing of human diseases, including osteoarthritis. To detect cartilage degradation, an arthroscopic probe based on polycrystalline fibers was developed and evaluated on equine cartilage specimen. The hook shape allows reaching a significant portion of the articular surface; the flat tip ensures avoidance of tissue destruction. Efficient QCL-coupling and stable transmission of PIR fibers under bending allows the assembling of effective thin arthroscopy probes and customized multispectral systems for medical diagnostic applications. The presented work was performed within the MIRACLE project (Grant Agreement No 780598, Horizon 2020).

The aim of the study is to develop diagnostic tests for the detection of pharmaceutical compounds in saliva. Oral fluid is increasingly being considered as an ideal sample matrix. It can be collected non-invasively and causes less stress to the person being tested. The detection of pharmaceutical compounds and drugs in saliva can give valuable information on individual bases on dose response, usage, characterization and clinical diagnostics. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a highly sensitive, fast and label free analytical technique for the detection of molecular interactions. The specific binding of measured analyte onto the active gold sensing surface of the SPR device induces a refractive index change that can be monitored. To monitor these pharmaceutical compounds in saliva the immunoassays were developed using a SPR instrument. The instrument is equipped with a 670nm laser diode and has two sensing channels. Monoclonal antibodies against the pharmaceutical compounds were used to specifically recognise and capture the compounds which intern will have an effect of the refractive index monitored. Preliminary results show that the immunoassays for cocaine and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) are very sensitive and have linear ranges of 0.01 pg/ml - 1 ng/ml and 0.1 pg/ml - 100 ng/ml, respectively.

We have built an imaging SPR device with incident angle calibration system allowing selection of the most sensitive measurement area. Applying the device, an assay for salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) was developed. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) provides a highly sensitive, fast and label-free detection method for biomarkers. The specific binding of measured analyte onto the active bio-sensitive layer of the SPR sensor surface causes a change in the refractive index. Imaging SPR allows the analysis of the several different immobilization areas at the same time. Our imaging SPR device utilises a 750nm superluminescent light emitting diode (SLED) with manual incident angle calibration system, which enables us to choose the most sensitive measurement area. This makes the measurement faster and more sensitive for samples of varying refractive index. We demonstrated the applicability of the instrument by developing an immunoassay detection method for immunoglobulin A. IgA is a dominant immunoglobulin in secretions in the mucosal immune system and it has a role in upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). It is also a marker of physical stress.

Both nettle (Urtica dioica) and cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) are widely known to have good influence on health. The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial properties of nettle powder and cranberry powder against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and monitor the growth of the bacteria by a rapid flow cytometry (FCM) method. For FCM measurements samples were stained with fluorescent dyes. The inhibitory effects of plant material on growth of E. coli were estimated by comparing the results of control sample (E. coli) to E. coli samples with plant material. FCM offers both a brilliant tool to investigate the kinetics of the growth of bacterium, since subsamples can be taken from the same liquid medium during the growing period and with fluorescent dyes a rapid method to investigate viability of the bacterium.