Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Infrared spectroscopic imaging microscopy: Applications to biological systems

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.55829· OSTI ID:21185689
; ;  [1]
  1. Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0510 (United States)

The coupling of imaging modalities with spectroscopic techniques adds additional dimensions to sample analysis in both the spectroscopic and spatial domains. The particular ability of infrared (IR) imaging to explore the spatial distribution of chemically distinct species on length scales ranging from microns to kilometers demonstrates the versatility and diversity of spectroscopic imaging. In this paper, we focus on the further development of our Fourier-transform (FT) based mid-IR spectroscopic imaging technique which combines the analytical capabilities of mid-IR spectroscopy with the morphological information obtained from optical imaging. The seamless combination of spectroscopy for molecular analysis with the power of visualization represents the future of infrared microscopy. Our spectroscopic imaging instrument integrates several infrared focal-plane arrays with a Michelson step-scan interferometer, generating high-fidelity and high spectral resolution mid-infrared spectroscopic images. The instrumentation produces multidimensional, chemically specific images, while simultaneously obtaining high resolution spectra for each detector pixel. The spatial resolution of the images approaches the diffraction limit for mid-infrared wavelengths, while the spectral resolution is determined by the interferometer, and can be 4 cm{sup -1} or higher. Data derived from a variety of materials, particularly biological samples, illustrate the capabilities of the technique for readily visualizing chemical complexity and for providing statistical data on sample heterogeneity.

OSTI ID:
21185689
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 430; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English