Development of the combination of cold plasma devices with a hyperspectral camera- "Bacteria- CAM"

The spectroscopy camera developed by Diaspective Vision GmbH is to be further developed in combination with various molecular biological methods by extending the spectrum of the camera to a new wavelength range in order to make bacterial biofilms or bacteria visible. By detecting bacterial markers in the wound fluids and correlating them with the recorded fluorescence spectra, an innovative and, above all, non-invasive method for rapid wound assessment will be developed. The KDK subproject will play a central role in elucidating the bacterial burden in chronically infected wounds, in addition to providing and supporting a specific patient cohort with exudate examinations. Molecular analysis of soluble wound components in response to infection (i.e., detection of bacterial components as well as human signaling and messenger substances) runs parallel to time-consuming detailed microbial analysis. Since these soluble components may well be spectroscopically active, these studies are important for two reasons: first, for early analysis of microbial colonization, and second, as an indication or confirmation of the presence of molecules to be detected by hyperspectral analysis. Since molecular biological methods can also be used to estimate quantities (semi-quantitative ELISA), the detection limits of the hyperspectral camera could thus also be explored. This is of particular importance for its later use, as it is of high importance for clinical routine to know and localize both the type and the amount of microorganisms. With these diagnostics (bacterial detection) adapted to the respective patient, it should be possible at a later stage to make bacteria visible directly in the wounds, even to identify them if necessary, and thus to develop a time- and cost-efficient diagnosis and thus a rapid initiation of therapies adapted to the bacteria accordingly.