Raman spectroscopy provides an opportunity to record extremely informative spectra of individual cells and to characterize them thoroughly. Using one single cell, for example, it is possible to distinguish differentiated stem cells, resolve cell cycles, monitor activation processes or determine stress conditions. At the same time, a Raman spectrometer can be used to analyze extracellular media – such as in the quality control of growth media, for monitoring the concentration of genetically produced products or for checking sterility.
Fraunhofer IPM has developed a Raman spectrometer unit especially for the microscopic analysis of biological samples. The modular construction enables the unit to be simply adapted to any microscope. Consequently, in addition to all the standard modes of modern microscopy, an additional Raman analysis of the samples is also available. The Raman unit can be integrated into existing software solutions without difficulty, but also offers the option of adaptation to special applications, including the automation of measuring procedures and chemometric data evaluation.