The Translational Potential of Mid-Infrared Optoacoustic and Optothermal Microspectroscopy for Biomedical Imaging and Biosensing
Presented by:
Miguel Pleitez, Technical University of MunichResearchers’ understanding of cell biology is greatly derived from observations with optical microscopy. However, the strengths of modern optical microscopy greatly rely on the application of external contrast labels which can perturb normal behavior of the biological system in study. While label-free molecular imaging remains challenging to conventional optical microscopy, particularly below 700 nm, MIR microspectroscopy provides intrinsic chemical contrast and has demonstrated potential for label-free molecular imaging in biological tissues.
However, due to the optical opacity of biological tissues and the negative contrast detection scheme of conventional MIR methods, MIR microspectroscopy has had only reduced applicability for studies in living cells to this point. Recently, a synergic combination of MIR excitation with optoacoustic (OA) and optothermal (OT) detection has resulted in new tools for label-free live-cell metabolic research. Here, Pleitez discusses the basic principles of MIR spectroscopy and how positive contrast OA and OT detection allows it to overcome its limitations in live-cell microscopy and optical biosensing.
About the presenter
Miguel A. Pleitez, Ph.D., received his doctorate from Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, where he created sensors for non-invasive glucose monitoring in human skin by MIR photoacoustic and photothermal spectroscopy. As postdoctoral researcher, at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., he contributed to the development of UV-based photoacoustic microscopy for intraoperative margin analysis and MIR photoacoustic microscopy.
In 2016, at the Technical University of Munich (TU-Munich) and Helmholtz Munich he developed MIR Optoacoustic Microscopy (MiROM) for label-free live-cell metabolic imaging. In 2021 he was appointed assistant professor for translational optoacoustics at TU-Munich where he and his team continue to develop MIR technologies for live-cell metabolic microscopy, fast analytical histology, and non-invasive biosensing.
About the sponsor(s)- DRS Daylight Solutions - Manufacturer of mid-IR lasers, sensors, and imaging systems for mid-IR applications including molecular spectroscopy, life sciences, remote sensing, process control, and defense and security. Laser performance spans 3 to 13 microns, with options for pulsed, CW, broadly tunable, narrow linewidth, rapid-scan, and high power output.
- Comsol - Provider of simulation software for product design and research to technical enterprises, research labs, and universities. Integrated software environment for creating physics-based models and simulation applications. Electromagnetic modeling capabilities span the entire spectrum, from DC to light.