What are the Common Label-Free Imaging Techniques?
Several label-free imaging techniques are commonly used in histology:
1. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): OCT uses light waves to capture 3D images of tissues. It is particularly useful for imaging the retina and other transparent or semi-transparent tissues.
2. Raman Spectroscopy: This technique measures the inelastic scattering of light to provide a molecular fingerprint of the tissue, allowing for detailed chemical analysis.
3. Second Harmonic Generation (SHG): SHG exploits non-linear optical properties of certain molecules, such as collagen, to visualize structures without external labels.
4. Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS): CARS is a type of Raman spectroscopy that offers high sensitivity and specificity, making it suitable for imaging lipids and other biomolecules.
5. Multiphoton Microscopy: This technique uses multiple photons to excite fluorophores naturally present in tissues, allowing for deep tissue imaging with minimal photodamage.
