Raman Spectroscopy: A Tool for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy can offer a non-invasive, information-rich biochemical ``snapshot'' of living human cells, tissues or material-cell tissue constructs rapidly(seconds–minutes), without the need of labels or contrast enhancers. This chapter details the exciting potential and challenges associated with the use of Raman spectroscopy in tissue engineering (TE). The use of Raman spectroscopy in three interlinked areas of TE will be considered: (1) the characterisation of the various scaffolds and ``smart'' materials, (2) the biochemical analysis of cellular behaviour important in TE (e.g. differentiation) and (3) the use of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of tissue/extracellular matrix (ECM) formation in vitro or possibly in vivo.