Microspectroscopy of single proliferating HeLa cells

Spectral differences between normal and abnormal tissue observed to date appear to be due to different averaging processes of spectral patterns that differ according to the cell's biochemistry, due to its state of maturation, differentiation, and development. Thus, disease perturbs the distribution of cells in the different stages of maturation, differentiation, and development. Previous FTIR microspectroscopic studies of normal versus neoplastic cells and tissues have demonstrated differences in the absorption intensities and band-shapes, particularly in the low frequency (1200-1000 cm−1) spectral region. In this study, we further investigated the spectral changes due to the drastic biochemical and morphological changes occurring as a consequence of cell proliferation.