Toward noncontact macroscopic imaging of multiple cancers using multi‐spectral inelastic scattering detection

Abstract

Here we introduce a Raman spectroscopy approach combining multi‐spectral imaging and a new fluorescence background subtraction technique to image individual Raman peaks in less than 5 seconds over a square field‐of‐view of 1‐centimeter sides with 350 micrometers resolution. First, human data is presented supporting the feasibility of achieving cancer detection with high sensitivity and specificity – in brain, breast, lung, and ovarian/endometrium tissue – using no more than three biochemically interpretable biomarkers associated with the inelastic scattering signal from specific Raman peaks. Second, a proof‐of‐principle study in biological tissue is presented demonstrating the feasibility of detecting a single Raman band – here the CH2/CH3 deformation bands from proteins and lipids – using a conventional multi‐spectral imaging system in combination with the new background removal method. This study paves the way for the development of a new Raman imaging technique that is rapid, label‐free, and wide field.