Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy in the analysis of cancer cells – A review and own research

This article shows the latest advances in the spectroscopic analysis of cancer cells to identify pathological changes and understand the mechanism of metastasis using stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy. SRS is a nonlinear technique that probes vibrational modes of molecules and offers several advantages over conventional Raman techniques, including much stronger signals and the ability to time-resolve the vibrational motions. Consequently, SRS microscopy offers analysis of single cells in a rapid way. On the one hand, the development of modern Raman imaging technology based on nonlinear optics is shown, and on the other hand, the latest achievements of this technology in the analysis of various tumours cells, in particular leukaemia. Additionally, the results of own research performed on the home-built SRS setup are presented and the perspectives of analysis based on SRS. Considering the advantages of SRS microscopy, it is expected that it will support cancer diagnostics in clinical practice.