RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY & NONLINEAR OPTICAL IMAGING
Raman imaging/spectroscopy (RS) is based on the inelastic light scattering between a photon and a molecule, which excites molecular vibrations and provides molecular fingerprint information of the sample. While RS is a powerful technique in detecting molecular-level differences, it lacks structural information. Combining RS with a technique that can further resolve structural changes can increase its potential for detecting early alterations in pathological tissue. Non-linear optical microscopy (NLOM) techniques, including anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), Second Harmonic Generation (SHG), and Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence (TPEF), can provide additional contrast and speed in combination with RS.
CARS, in particular, is recognized as a great imaging system for in vivo experiments because it is sensitive to enhancing contrast for molecular vibrations. The unique combination of these methods elevates these imaging systems.
Application
– Molecular interactions in living cells
– OCT, Multiphoton, SHG, THG microscopy
– CARS microscopy
– Zebrafish, C. elegans, biopsies, cell cultures
– Inherent multimodal technique
