Microsecond fingerprint stimulated Raman spectroscopic imaging by ultrafast tuning and spatial-spectral learning

Nat Commun. 2021 May 24;12(1):3052. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23202-z.

Abstract

Label-free vibrational imaging by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) provides unprecedented insight into real-time chemical distributions. Specifically, SRS in the fingerprint region (400-1800 cm-1) can resolve multiple chemicals in a complex bio-environment. However, due to the intrinsic weak Raman cross-sections and the lack of ultrafast spectral acquisition schemes with high spectral fidelity, SRS in the fingerprint region is not viable for studying living cells or large-scale tissue samples. Here, we report a fingerprint spectroscopic SRS platform that acquires a distortion-free SRS spectrum at 10 cm-1 spectral resolution within 20 µs using a polygon scanner. Meanwhile, we significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio by employing a spatial-spectral residual learning network, reaching a level comparable to that with 100 times integration. Collectively, our system enables high-speed vibrational spectroscopic imaging of multiple biomolecules in samples ranging from a single live microbe to a tissue slice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofuels
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods*
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*
  • Vibration

Substances

  • Biofuels