Current methodologies and data analysis techniques in vibrational spectroscopy and their biomedical applications

As with many other spectroscopic techniques, Raman and infrared spectroscopy have made great progress due to recent developments in optics, detectors, nanotechnology, and computer science. There is increasing interest in the biomedical field in using these methods for diagnostic and in vivo applications. For example, explorative and rapid analysis techniques can be used to diagnose disease or dysfunction via infrared or Raman spectral fingerprints.

This comprehensive overview of biomedical applications of vibrational spectroscopy focuses on methodologies that are most relevant to biodiagnostics. After a few introductory chapters that summarize the current status of the field, the reference covers three primary areas:

• Current spectroscopic applications suitable for routine use in cytology,histopathology, and clinical chemistry

• New spectroscopic directions providing increased analytical sensitivity or spatial resolution that make them suitable for in vivo and in situ applications such as resonant Raman scattering, CARS, SERS, and PTIR

• Study design and the analysis of vibrational spectral fingerprints from complex biological and clinical samples