High-speed molecular spectral imaging of tissue with stimulated Raman scattering

To date, medical imaging of tissues has largely relied on time-consuming staining processes, and there is a need for rapid, label-free imaging techniques. Stimulated Raman scattering microscopy offers a three-dimensional, real-time imaging capability with chemical specificity. However, it can be difficult to differentiate between several constituents in tissues because their spectral characteristics can overlap. Furthermore, imaging speeds in previous multispectral stimulated Raman scattering imaging techniques were limited. Here, we demonstrate label-free imaging of tissues by 30 frames/s stimulated Raman scattering microscopy with frame-by-frame wavelength tunability. To produce multicolour images showing different constituents, spectral images were processed by modified independent component analysis, which can extract small differences in spectral features. We present various imaging modalities such as two-dimensional spectral imaging of rat liver, two-colour three-dimensional imaging of a vessel in rat liver, spectral imaging of several sections of intestinal villi in mouse, and in vivo spectral imaging of mouse ear skin. Video-rate imaging of various types of biological tissue is reported using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy. The label-free scheme offers molecular specificity and frame-by-frame wavelength tunability allowing the creation of 2D and 3D images of samples showing different constituents.