Raman spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging: prospective tools for monitoring skeletal cells and skeletal regeneration

Abstract

The use of skeletal stem cells (SSCs) for cell-based therapies is currently one of the most promising areas for skeletal disease treatment and skeletal tissue repair. The ability for controlled modification of SSCs could provide significant therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, with the prospect to permanently repopulate a host with stem cells and their progeny. Currently, SSC differentiation into the stromal lineages of bone, fat and cartilage is assessed using different approaches that typically require cell fixation or lysis, which are invasive or even destructive. Raman spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy present an exciting alternative for studying biological systems in their natural state, without any perturbation. Here we review the applications of Raman spectroscopy and CARS imaging in stem-cell research, and discuss the potential of these two techniques for evaluating SSCs, skeletal tissues and skeletal regeneration as an exemplar.

Chemical fingerprinting of single glandular trichomes of Cannabis sativa by Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy

“…CARS is therefore highly suitable for imaging applications, especially for the fast, non-destructive imaging of biological samples [ 31 , 33 ] and has been used e.g. for monitoring the differentiation state of stem cells [ 34 ] or the detection of lipids by assessing the strong C-H vibration at a single-band frequency [ 35 ].…”

Multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy detection of lipid droplets in cancer cells expressing TrkB

“…When these two beams are tightly focused, an anti-Stokes beam is generated at frequency 2ω p − ω S , corresponding to vibrational modes of the probed molecule. MCARS microspectroscopy is a highly sensitive technology that is able, in the mid-infrared spectral domain, to visualize proteins, lipids and heterochromatin inside the cells 9,10 .…”

Non-invasive Raman Spectroscopy and Quantitative Real-Time PCR Distinguish Among Undifferentiated Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Redifferentiated Nucleus Pulposus Cells and Chondrocytes In Vitro

“…These so-called Raman shifts (or wavenumbers [cm -1 ]) are assigned to molecular vibrations, therefore creating specific Raman spectra (biological fingerprints) for different sample compositions, such as cells at different stages of differentiation [ 27 - 29 ]. This approach has been used to analyse hMSCs and chondrocytes in monolayers or suspension [ 30 ], to compare spectral data for chondrocytes and ECM taken from the superficial and middle/deep zones of human cartilage slices [ 28 ], and to compare distinct zones of the growth plate of human foetal femur cartilage [ 31 ]. However, to the best of our knowledge, NP cells have never been analysed by Raman spectroscopy.…”