Fundamentals and Applications of Raman‐Based Techniques for the Design and Development of Active Biomedical Materials

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy is an analytical method based on light‐matter interactions that can interrogate the vibrational modes of matter and provide representative molecular fingerprints. Mediated by its label‐free, non‐invasive nature and high molecular specificity, Raman‐based techniques have become ubiquitous tools for in situ characterisation of materials. This review comprehensively describes the theoretical and practical background of Raman spectroscopy and its advanced variants. We highlight the numerous facets of material characterisation that Raman scattering can reveal, including biomolecular identification, solid‐to‐solid phase transitions and spatial mapping of biomolecular species in bioactive materials. The review illustrates the potential of these techniques in the context of active biomedical material design and development by highlighting representative studies from the literature. These studies cover the use of Raman spectroscopy for the characterisation of both natural and synthetic biomaterials, including engineered tissue constructs, biopolymer systems, ceramics and nanoparticle formulations, among others. To increase the accessibility and adoption of these techniques, the present review also provides the reader with practical recommendations on the integration of Raman techniques into the experimental laboratory toolbox. Finally, we provide perspectives on how recent developments in plasmon‐ and coherently‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy can propel Raman from underutilised to critical for biomaterial development.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

The application of Raman spectroscopy for the diagnosis and monitoring of lung tumors

“…This method is non-invasive, does not require labeling, and is specific to polymers. As a result, it is extensively utilized for in situ material characterization ( Fernandez-Galiana et al, 2023 ). Because of the distinct vibrational properties of all molecules, Raman spectroscopy holds considerable promise for use in the biochemical assessment of specific compounds of interest.…”

RamanSPy: An open-source Python package for integrative Raman spectroscopy data analysis

“…Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a powerful sensing modality based on inelastic light scattering, which provides qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis with high sensitivity and specificity [1]. RS yields a characterisation of the vibrational profile of molecules, which can help elucidate the composition of chemical compounds, biological specimens and materials [2][3][4]. In contrast to most conventional technologies for (bio)chemical characterisation (e.g., staining, different omics, fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry), RS is both label-free and non-destructive, thereby allowing the acquisition of rich biological and chemical information without compromising the structural and functional integrity of the probed samples.…”

RamanSPy: An Open-Source Python Package for Integrative Raman Spectroscopy Data Analysis

“…An area of topical interest is the frontier of Raman spectroscopy, chemometrics, and artificial intelligence (AI), with its promise of more autonomous, flexible, and data-driven RS analytics. − There has been a recent surge in the adoption of AI methods in Raman-based research, with applications to RS now spanning domains as broad as the identification of pathogens and other microbes − ; the characterization of chemicals, including minerals, pesticides, and other analytes , ; the development of novel diagnostic platforms − ; and the application of techniques from computer vision for denoising and super-resolution in Raman imaging …”

“…20−22 An area of topical interest is the frontier of Raman spectroscopy, chemometrics, and artificial intelligence (AI), with its promise of more autonomous, flexible, and data-driven RS analytics. 23−25 There has been a recent surge in the adoption of AI methods in Raman-based research, 4 with applications to RS now spanning domains as broad as the identification of pathogens and other microbes 26−29 ; the characterization of chemicals, including minerals, 30 pesti-cides, 31 and other analytes 32,33 ; the development of novel diagnostic platforms 34−37 ; and the application of techniques from computer vision for denoising and super-resolution in Raman imaging. 38 As new hardware, software, and data acquisition RS technologies continue to emerge, 39,40 there is a pressing need for an integrated RS data analysis environment, which facilitates the development of pipelines, methods, and applications, and bolsters the use of RS in industry and research.…”

“…Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a powerful sensing modality based on inelastic light scattering, which provides qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses with high sensitivity and specificity . RS yields a characterization of the vibrational profile of molecules, which can help elucidate the composition of chemical compounds, biological specimens, and materials. − In contrast to most conventional technologies for (bio)­chemical characterization (e.g., staining, different omics, fluorescence microscopy, and mass spectrometry), RS is both label-free and nondestructive, thereby allowing the acquisition of rich biological and chemical information without compromising the structural and functional integrity of the probed samples. This advantage has enabled a broad range of applications of RS across biomedical and pharmaceutical research, − materials science, , environmental science, , and others. − …”