Development of an inverted NIR-FT-Raman microscope for biomedical applications

NIR-FT-Raman spectroscopy is the most suitable tool for investigation of biological samples, because the fluorescence of organic substances is reduced to a minimum. To examine the applicability of NIR excited FT-Raman spectroscopy to the study of cell cultures and tissues, measurements were made with an inverted Raman microscope, a modified Zeiss Axiovert 135. This system allows the collection of Raman spectra both by Koehler laser illumination and the confocal principle: Koehler laser illumination avoids overheating and denaturation of the sample because the exciting laser beam illuminates the sample as an unfocused collimated beam. An integrative collection over the whole image of the microscope objective is necessary to increase the Raman light flux. The confocal arrangement allows high spatial resolution which is reached by selective collection of the Raman scattering of details of the sample. A larger spatial resolution leads to a decreased light flux of the Raman scattering, this is compensated by a focused laser beam. We have used NIR-FT-Raman spectroscopy to investigate the spectra of normal breast tissues, potentially useful in the diagnosis of cancer. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.