Background

Within the scope of the development of instruments dedicated to the understanding of molecular interaction in the cell machinery and tissue organization, the Fresnel Institute, a French academic laboratory, has developed a Stimulated Raman Scattering instrument with improved sensitivity and contrast allowing imaging from the fingerprint region to the lipid-protein region without artifacts inherent to this technology.

Benefits

Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy is a new technology which allows imaging – without labeling or staining – of specific molecular bonds of chemical species present in cells and tissues. SRS is usually considered as an artifact free technique which is an important feature in its favor.
The charts below (experiment on human tissue) clearly demonstrate that SRS exhibits artifacts in the amide (C=O and N-H bonds) and fingerprint regions. This is a major issue when imaging through scattering medium as tissues.

SRS spectra (red) on human skin are not artifact free in amide and fingerprint regions

SRGOLD is an artifact free SRS technique based on off-the-shelf equipment that provides:

• Artifact free imaging of molecular bonds of chemical species present in cells and tissues in the whole spectra from the fingerprint to the lipid-protein regions.
• Enhancement (x2) of signal intensity.
• Enhancement of molecular contrast in scattering medium

Development Status

• First microscope prototype characterized
• Proof of concept on polystyrene beads and human tissues

APPLICATIONS

• Label and stain free imaging of tissues and cells
• Vibrational spectroscopy
• Molecular imaging