Raman Microspectroscopic System

Raman Microspectroscopic System

He-Ne laser: 632.8 nm
Spatial resolutions: X-Y: 250nm, Z: 2µm
Laser power at the sample point: 3mW

This system is used for the measurement of time- and space-resolved Raman spectra and time-resolved Raman images of living cells, liposomes and microcrystals.

Fig. 1. Setup

Fig. 2. Apparatus

Result

We trace a spontaneous cell death process of a single budding yeast cell by Raman images at 1602cm^-1 ("Raman spectroscopic signature of life" reflecting the metabolic activity of mitochondria), 1440cm^-1 (phospholipid), 1160cm^-1 (polyphosphate) and 1002cm^-1 (phenylalanine). Between 5h 50min and 6h, a "dancing body" appears. The Raman images show that the metabolic activity of mitochondria is lowered concomitantly with the sudden appearance of the dancing body.

Fig. 3. (a) Time-resolved Raman images of a single budding yeast cell, (b) The corresponding optical images of the cell