Molecular vibrational imaging of a human cell by multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy using a supercontinuum light source

Molecular vibrational images of human cells are obtained by multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy. The CARS images of HeLa cells at the C-H stretching vibrational mode clearly show various organelles such as nucleolus, chromosome, cell membrane, and nuclear membrane with high vibrational contrast. Filament-like structures are also found to be observed in interphase, while it is not clearly observed in M phase. These structures most probably visualize endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network.