Nan Wang, Honghao Cao, Lin Wang, Feng Ren, Qi Zeng, Xinyi Xu, Jimin Liang, Yonghua Zhan and Xueli Chen* Pages 6188 - 6207 ( 20 )
Background: Spectroscopic imaging based on the spontaneous Raman scattering effects can provide unique fingerprint information in relation to the vibration bands of molecules. Due to its advantages of high chemical specificity, non-invasive detection capability, low sensitivity to water, and no special sample pretreatment, Raman Spectroscopic Imaging (RSI) has become an invaluable tool in the field of biomedicine and medicinal chemistry.
Methods: There are three methods to implement RSI, including point scanning, line scanning and wide-field RSI. Point-scanning can achieve two-and three-dimensional imaging of target samples. High spectral resolution, full spectral range and confocal features render this technique highly attractive. However, point scanning based RSI is a time-consuming process that can take several hours to map a small area. Line scanning RSI is an extension of point scanning method, with an imaging speed being 300-600 times faster. In the wide-field RSI, the laser illuminates the entire region of interest directly and all the images then collected for analysis. In general, it enables more accurate chemical imaging at faster speeds.
Results: This review focuses on the recent advances in RSI, with particular emphasis on the latest developments on instrumentation and the related applications in biomedicine and medicinal chemistry. Finally, we prospect the development trend of RSI as well as its potential to translation from bench to bedside.
Conclusion: RSI is a powerful technique that provides unique chemical information, with a great potential in the fields of biomedicine and medicinal chemistry.
Raman spectroscopic imaging, spontaneous Raman scattering, point scanning, line scanning, wide-field imaging, medicinal chemistry, biomedical applications.
Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, School of Information Sciences and Techonlogy, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710127, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126, Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuro Imaging of Ministry of China, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710126