ABSTRACT – Live cell imaging with molecularly specific contrast is a particular strength of optical microscopy, permitting the dynamic observation of events at the single cell level in 4 dimensions. Optical microscopy based on fluorescent probes does, however, also have limitations due to the size of the probes which can inhibit biological activity, and their photochemical properties, in particular rapid photobleaching, which greatly limits the window of observation. Because of these limitations, imaging of cells and tissue based on intrinsic optical properties can be highly advantageous. One such contrast mechanism is based on inelastic scattering of light by molecular bonds, which is the basis of Raman spectroscopy. In this webinar I will introduce some of the techniques and applications of Raman spectroscopy and coherent Raman imaging and will explain how these provide molecularly specific contrast in living cells and even in living organisms without the need for exogenous probes.
