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Raman Spectroscopy: Overview

Raman Spectroscopy: Overview

The underlying principle of Raman spectroscopy is based on the interaction between light and matter, specifically molecules' inelastic scattering of photons. When a monochromatic beam of light, typically from a laser source, interacts with a sample, most scattered light has the same frequency as the incident light. This is known as Rayleigh scattering.
However, a small fraction of the scattered light exhibits a frequency shift due to the exchange of energy between the incident photons and...

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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

An Integrated Raman Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Platform to Study Single-Cell Drug Uptake, Metabolism, and Effects

An Integrated Raman Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Platform to Study Single-Cell Drug Uptake, Metabolism, and Effects

Published on: January 9, 2020

Spatially Resolved Laser Tweezers Raman Spectral Snapshots Reveal Single-Cell Molecular Heterogeneity.

Jiuyi Sun¹, Yiwei Tou¹, Pai Liu¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Environment Characteristics and Effects for Near-Space, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.

Analytical Chemistry

|April 27, 2026

Summary

Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) quantifies single-cell tumor heterogeneity using label-free biochemical imaging. This method reveals distinct molecular distributions, aiding in cancer screening and treatment monitoring.

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Last Updated: Apr 29, 2026

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Published on: January 9, 2020

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Non-contact, Label-free Monitoring of Cells and Extracellular Matrix using Raman Spectroscopy

Non-contact, Label-free Monitoring of Cells and Extracellular Matrix using Raman Spectroscopy

Published on: May 29, 2012

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Physics
Cancer Research

Background:

Tumor heterogeneity drives cancer drug resistance.
Quantitative single-cell characterization of heterogeneity is challenging.
Label-free biochemical imaging offers a potential solution.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a label-free method for quantifying single-cell tumor heterogeneity.
To analyze intracellular biochemical distributions in various cancer cell lines.
To establish a framework for cancer screening and therapeutic monitoring.

Main Methods:

Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) for optically trapping and analyzing single cells.
Acquisition of 2D Raman spectral snapshots for pixel-resolved spectral analysis.
Mapping of characteristic Raman peak ratios (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, membranes).
Introduction of spatial full width at half-maximum (fwhm) as a quantitative heterogeneity marker.

Main Results:

LTRS successfully mapped intracellular biochemical distributions in eight cancer cell lines.
Hematological cancer cells showed fragmented heterogeneity (narrow fwhm), while solid tumor cells displayed uniform organization (broad fwhm).
A label-free classification model accurately discriminated tumor phenotypes based on Raman ratios.
Spatial fwhm effectively quantified single-cell heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

Spatially resolved LTRS analysis provides a robust framework for quantifying single-cell heterogeneity.
The method enables label-free biochemical imaging and phenotype discrimination.
This approach has potential applications in early cancer detection and monitoring treatment response.