The Role of Raman Spectroscopy Within Quantitative Metabolomics

Ninety-four years have passed since the discovery of the Raman effect, and there are currently more than 25 different types of Raman-based techniques. The past two decades have witnessed the blossoming of Raman spectroscopy as a powerful physicochemical technique with broad applications within the life sciences. In this review, we critique the use of Raman spectroscopy as a tool for quantitative metabolomics. We overview recent developments of Raman spectroscopy for identification and quantification of disease biomarkers in liquid biopsies, with a focus on the recent advances within surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based methods. Ultimately, we discuss the applications of imaging modalities based on Raman scattering as label-free methods to study the abundance and distribution of biomolecules in cells and tissues, including mammalian, algal, and bacterial cells.

Automated summary

This review discusses the flourishing development of Raman spectroscopy as a powerful physicochemical technique with broad applications within the life sciences, critiques its use as a tool for quantitative metabolomics, overviews the recent advancements in its identification and quantification of disease biomarkers in liquid biopsies, particularly focusing on surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based methods, and ultimately explores its applications as label-free imaging modalities to study the abundance and distribution of biomolecules in cells and tissues.