title: Raman spectroscopy--a prospective tool in the life sciences.
abstract: Although the physics of Raman spectroscopy and its application to purely chemical problems is long established, it offers a noninvasive, nondestructive, and water-insensitive probe to problems in the life sciences. Starting from the principles of Raman spectroscopy, its advantages, and methods for signal enhancement, the bulk of the review highlights recent applications. Structural investigations of a hormone receptor, testing the biocompatibility of dental implants, probing soil components and plant tissue alkaloids, and localization of single bacteria are just four problems in which Raman spectroscopy offers a solution or complements existing methods.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie Universität Würzburg Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001690:Biological Science Disciplines / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D012987:Soil