Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy in chemistry and life science - Development, innovation, perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics and advanced imaging techniques.
• Molecular and cellular imaging.
• Spectroscopy and microscopy.

Background:

• Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) is a powerful nonlinear optical microscopy technique.
• SRS provides label-free chemical contrast for biological samples.
• Understanding SRS fundamentals is crucial for its application in life sciences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the principles, detection methods, and image collection in SRS microscopy.
• To highlight the advantages, limitations, and recent developments in SRS imaging.
• To compare SRS with other microscopy techniques and discuss system compatibility.

Main Methods:

• Detailed explanation of the Stimulated Raman Scattering phenomenon.
• Description of signal detection and SRS image acquisition strategies.
• Presentation of a homemade SRS microscopy setup using commercial components.

Main Results:

• SRS microscopy enables label-free imaging of molecular structures in single cells (800-3600 cm⁻¹).
• Comparison with fluorescence, SHG, CARS, and spontaneous Raman microscopy highlights SRS advantages.
• Machine learning methods are discussed for molecular distribution imaging and pathological lesion detection.

Conclusions:

• SRS microscopy is a versatile tool for biological studies and clinical diagnosis.
• Innovations in SRS systems enhance imaging capabilities for molecular analysis.
• Future perspectives for SRS microscopy development are outlined, including improved speed and resolution.