title: Raman spectroscopy and related techniques in biomedicine.
abstract: In this review we describe label-free optical spectroscopy techniques which are able to non-invasively measure the (bio)chemistry in biological systems. Raman spectroscopy uses visible or near-infrared light to measure a spectrum of vibrational bonds in seconds. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopy and stimulated Raman loss (SRL) microscopy are orders of magnitude more efficient than Raman spectroscopy, and are able to acquire high quality chemically-specific images in seconds. We discuss the benefits and limitations of all techniques, with particular emphasis on applications in biomedicine--both in vivo (using fiber endoscopes) and in vitro (in optical microscopes).
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK. andy.downes@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfick
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman