Quantifying Chronic Alcoholism Using RAman Spectroscopy

We will develop an analytical instrument which will rapidly quantify alcoholic severity in anindividual. One detriment of alcohol abuse is the reliance upon accurate self reporting. Quantitativeresults could be achieved if a minimally invasive method could monitor a biochemical marker foralcoholism. Acetaldehyde association with hemoglobin is potentially useful since acetaldehyde adductformation increases as a function of duration of alcoholism, reverses with abstinence, and is alcoholspecific. The analytical instrument will utilize Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (RRS) for quantificationof acetaldehyde adduct formation. Resonance enhancement is wavelength specific which will, in effect,make the detecting element "blind" to the majority of blood components. A fiber optic probe coupledto a motorized carousel with disposable sample cells allows for total automation of a Raman instrument.The Phase I will evaluate the analytical feasibility of RRS for submicromolar detection of acetaldehydeadducts in hemoglobin and whole blood. The capability of remote sensing using fiber optic Ramanprobes will also be demonstrated. The Phase II program will develop an automated prototype compactinstrument with Raman probes which can perform on-line blood analyses for alcoholism. Commercializa-tion of the Raman instrument for on-line monitoring is the ultimate objective.