Advancements in Raman instrumentation for bioimaging applications Niclas West Andor Technology, UK
Spectroscopic methods, such as Raman, are increasingly being used in biomedical research. This field has grown rapidly in recent years, due in part to the advances in instrumentation, increasing speed and sensitivity of data acquisition. The growing trend in the application of Raman to clinical testing will be discussed and demonstrated. Specifically, developments in the spectrometers and detectors enabling this work will be explained. Raman spectroscopy isan optical technique which can provide chemical fingerprints of cells, tissues or fluids. It is rapid, reproducible, and non-destructive all of which are useful for clinical work. Equally, it is easy to use, and both chemical specificity and molecular information can be obtained without the need for complex sample preparation, such as staining or labelling. Historically, Raman spectroscopy was considered a low signal technique, requiring long measurement times, which was a barrier to the widespread acceptance of this technique. Developments in instrumentation, such as Low Dark Current Deep Depletion (LDC-DD) detectors, offer a solution making Raman spectroscopy more applicable to real-world, clinical applications. The effects of selecting specific modular components of a high-end spectrograph on the speed, sensitivity, and resolution of Raman spectroscopy data acquisition will be discussed. The advantages of different camera types will also be compared, with emphasis on the wavelength ranges in which they are most ideally suited (to avoid artefacts and increase quantum efficiency) as well as the collection speed in which the cameras are able to operate. These factors can be important for timely Raman mapping of biological samples for real time results. The customisation of a high-end spectrographs, purpose-built for Raman spectroscopy, can enable Raman experiments that would not otherwise have been possible. Continuous improvement in designing the next generation of instrumentation that will enable scientists and researchers to make the next scientific breakthroughs with spectroscopy.
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