title: Advantages and limitations of Raman spectroscopy for molecular diagnostics: an update.
abstract: Over the last decade, Raman spectroscopy has gained more and more interest in research as well as in clinical laboratories. As a vibrational spectroscopy technique, it is complementary to the also well-established infrared spectroscopy. Through specific spectral patterns, substances can be identified and molecular changes can be observed with high specificity. Because of a high spatial resolution due to an excitation wavelength in the visible and near-infrared range, Raman spectroscopy combined with microscopy is very powerful for imaging biological samples. Individual cells can be imaged on the subcellular level. In vivo tissue examinations are becoming increasingly important for clinical applications. In this review, we present currently ongoing research in different fields of medical diagnostics involving linear Raman spectroscopy and imaging. We give a wide overview over applications for the detection of atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammatory diseases and pharmacology, with a focus on developments over the past 5 years. Conclusions drawn from Raman spectroscopy are often validated by standard methods, for example, histopathology or PCR. The future potential of Raman spectroscopy and its limitations are discussed in consideration of other non-linear Raman techniques.
authors: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Eberhardt
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Stiebing
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Matthäus
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Schmitt
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Popp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Raman spectroscopy; atherosclerosis; cancer diagnostics; cell imaging; disease recognition; infectious diseases