Chemical Imaging Reveals Metabolite Distribution in Tissues Using Raman Microspectroscopy

Metabolite distribution in living systems is crucial for understanding cellular processes and disease states. This presentation will demonstrate that combining spontaneous Raman spectroscopy and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy can detect and map fumarate (an organic compound). The presenter’s team identified, based on prior work, a distinct fumarate peak at 1401+-5 cm-1 and employed ratiometric SRS imaging to highlight the contrast between fumarate and other cellular constituents.

Results showed significant differences in fumarate content between normal and fumarate hydratase deficient tissues, consistent with metabolomics measurements. Large-area tissue mapping was optimized using image stitching for whole-tissue visualization, enabling in situ assessment of fumarate distribution. Future studies will focus on expanding this technique to investigate various metabolites in different biomedical contexts, advancing Raman scattering as a valuable tool for label-free, small molecule metabolic imaging.