Raman Spectroscopy for In Vivo Medical Diagnosis

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy is a noninvasive optical technique that can be used as an aid in diagnosing certain diseases and as an alternative to more invasive diagnostic techniques such as the biopsy. Due to these characteristics, Raman spectroscopy is also known as an optical biopsy technique. The success of Raman spectroscopy in biomedical applications is based on the fact that the molecular composition of healthy tissue is different from diseased tissue; also, several disease biomarkers can be identified in Raman spectra, which can be used to diagnose or monitor the progress of certain medical conditions. This chapter outlines an overview of the use of Raman spectroscopy for in vivo medical diagnostics and demonstrates the potential of this technique to address biomedical issues related to human health. Keywords: