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Updated: Jan 10, 2026
06:48
A Multimodal Wide-Field Fourier-Transform Raman Microscope
Published on: December 30, 2025
18
Open Raman Microscopy (ORM): A Modular Hardware and Software Framework for Accessible Raman Imaging
Kevin T Uning1,2, Henry Brisebois3, Conor C Horgan4
1London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|November 24, 2025
Summary
We present an Open Raman Microscopy (ORM) framework, an accessible, modular system for chemical fingerprinting. This open-source hardware and software solution enhances the reach of Raman microscopy in diverse scientific fields.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Imaging
- Spectroscopy
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Raman microscopy offers label-free, non-destructive chemical fingerprinting.
- High cost and technical complexity limit accessibility of commercial and custom Raman systems.
- Growing applications in materials science, environmental analysis, and biomedical research.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce an Open Raman Microscopy (ORM) framework to improve accessibility.
- Provide a modular, open-source hardware and software solution for Raman imaging.
- Demonstrate the ORM platform's versatility across different scientific applications.
Main Methods:
- Developed a modular microscopy platform for Raman imaging.
- Created the ORM-Integrated Raman and Imaging Software (ORM-IRIS) for component control.
- Implemented the ORM platform in three institutions for diverse imaging tasks.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated high-throughput imaging of articular cartilage.
- Showcased confocal 3D imaging of zebrafish embryos.
- Successfully imaged gold colloid surfaces for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Conclusions:
- The ORM framework significantly enhances Raman microscopy accessibility.
- Open-source hardware and software facilitate broader scientific adoption.
- The platform supports diverse applications from tissue analysis to materials science.
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