Shedding new light on lipid biology with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

Despite the ubiquitous roles of lipids in biology, the detection of lipids has relied on invasive techniques, population measurements, or nonspecific labeling. Such difficulties can be circumvented by a label-free imaging technique known as coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopy, which is capable of chemically selective, highly sensitive, and high-speed imaging of lipid-rich structures with submicron three-dimensional spatial resolution. We review the broad applications of CARS microscopy to studies of lipid biology in cell cultures, tissue biopsies, and model organisms. Recent technical advances, limitations of the technique, and perspectives are discussed.