Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy for polymers

Coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a label-free chemical imaging modality capable of interrogating local molecular composition, concentration, and even orientation. In comparison to traditional Raman spectroscopy/imaging, CARS generates signals that are typically orders-of-magnitude stronger, enabling high-throughput and large-area imaging with superior spectroscopic fidelity. In this review, we present an overview of CARS microscopy as applied to polymer science, covering such timely and important topics as drug release and reaction kinetics to 3D molecular structures and orientation. We also discuss outstanding opportunities and challenges to using CARS microscopy as a quantitative measurement method.