Advancements in photothermal mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging for biomedical diagnostics

Photothermal mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging (MIRSI) is emerging as a crucial technology for profiling diseased tissue and clinical diagnostics. Leveraging advancements in Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) and machine learning, MIRSI offers sub-micron resolution and label-free, quantitative differentiation of tissue subtypes and cancer classifications, outperforming traditional FT-IR imaging. This method enhances diagnostics for diseases like myelofibrosis, lupus nephritis, and gynecologic cancers. For lupus nephritis, MIRSI improves diagnosis beyond immunohistochemical (IHC) labeling. In ovarian cancer, it enables precise tissue segmentation. Additionally, MIRSI identifies bone conditions like osteosclerosis and uses polarization techniques to assess bone marrow fibrosis, discerning thin collagen fibers.