Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39855292›Full record

ArticleOsteoarthritis and cartilage2025

Raman spectroscopic probe provides optical biomarkers of cartilage composition predictive of tissue function.

Masumeh Kazemi, Chenhao Yu, Dev R Mehrotra, Erik E Ersland, Stefan Zbyn, Farida Korna, Steven J Staffa, Julie B Engiles, Xiaojuan Li, Thomas P Schaer and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Masumeh KazemiCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Chenhao YuCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Dev R MehrotraCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Erik E ErslandCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Stefan ZbynDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Farida KornaCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Steven J StaffaBoston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Julie B EngilesDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA; Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Xiaojuan LiDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Thomas P SchaerClinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Mark W GrinstaffCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Mads S BergholtCenter for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
Brian D SnyderDepartment of Orthopedics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael B AlbroCollege of Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: albro@bu.edu.

Funding

Arthroscopic Raman Monitoring of Cartilage Content for PTOA Diagnosis and Chondroregenerative Treatment ResponseR01AR081393 · NIAMS · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · PI Michael B Albro, Brian D Snyder · 2022 to 2026
$2.8M
NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR081393
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe diagnosis of early osteoarthritis when therapeutic interventions may be most effective at reversing cartilage degeneration presents a clinical challenge. We describe a Raman arthroscopic probe and spectral analysis that measures biomarkers reflective of the content of predominant cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) constituents-glycosaminoglycans (GAG), collagen, water-essential to cartilage function. We compare the capability of Raman-probe-derived biomarkers to predict functional properties of cartilage to quantitative MRI and histopathology assessments.

designOsteochondral blocks were sectioned from 6 bovine femoral condyles with no macroscopic injury (n=62 blocks) and 6 condyles with a focal chondral lesion (n=32 blocks), but no macroscopic degeneration of surrounding cartilage (n=34 blocks). Blocks from 10 human knees were further analyzed (age 27-75; n=235 blocks). Using a custom arthroscopic Raman spectroscopy probe, spectra of chondral layers were measured and subjected to multivariate linear decomposition to extract ECM biomarker scores, reflecting the contribution of each ECM constituent to the spectra. Blocks were further analyzed for elastic modulus, T2/T2* MRI relaxation times, and OARSI scores.

resultsFor bovine tissues, Raman biomarkers revealed depleted GAG and cartilage softening peripheral to the lesion despite no macroscopic degeneration. Raman biomarkers accounted for 78% of GAG content variation and 71% of modulus variation. For human tissues, Raman biomarkers accounted for 71% of modulus variation. Raman biomarkers accounted for a greater variation of modulus (71%-72%) than OARSI (12-54%), T2* (15%-27%), or T2 (25%-30%).

conclusionsThese data support the application of Raman-probe-derived biomarkers for molecular assessment of key ECM constituents that define cartilage properties in health and disease.

Indexed as

Cartilage, ArticularOsteoarthritis, KneeSpectrum Analysis, RamanAdultAgedAnimalsArthroscopyBiomarkersCattleCollagenExtracellular MatrixFemaleGlycosaminoglycansHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMiddle AgedBiomarkersCollagenGlycosaminoglycansArticular cartilageChondral lesionEarly osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis diagnosticsRaman spectroscopy

Identifiers

PMID39855292
PMCPMC11996041

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.