Hyperspectral characterization of re‐epithelialization in an in vitro wound model

In vitro wound models are useful for research on wound re‐epithelialization. Hyperspectral imaging represents a non‐destructive alternative to histology analysis for detection of re‐epithelialization. This study aims to characterize the main optical behavior of a wound model in order to enable development of detection algorithms. K‐Means clustering and agglomerative analysis were used to group spatial regions based on the spectral behavior, and an inverse photon transport model was used to explain differences in optical properties. Six samples of the wound model were prepared from human tissue and followed over 22 days. Re‐epithelialization occurred at a mean rate of 0.24 mm2/day after day 8 to 10. Suppression of wound spectral features was the main feature characterizing re‐epithelialized and intact tissue. Modeling the photon transport through a diffuse layer placed on top of wound tissue properties reproduced the spectral behavior. The missing top layer represented by wounds is thus optically detectable using hyperspectral imaging. Hyperspectral imaging is a promising technique for applications like detection of wound re‐epithelialization. The technique is in this paper applied to an in vitro wound model. Wounded tissue is separated from healing and intact tissue, and their spectral characteristics are summarized. Photon transport through healing tissue is found to be representable using wound tissue properties with an epidermis‐like layer on top. The findings set a clear route for further development of detection algorithms, enabling non‐destructive characterization of in vitro wound models.