Raman microscopy tools to augment tissue structure: function analysis

Chemical composition contributes to tissue mechanical properties but does not mean constituents have been arranged into functionals unit that dictate structure – function relationships. Utilizing spectroscopic imaging techniques based on Raman scattering, spontaneous and coherent microscopy tools may provide greater insights into the composition and organization of tissue constituents that dictate the mechanical integrity of tissue. To this end, we are combining multiwindow spectroscopic Raman microscopy with multiphoton microscopy for label-free chemical and structural analysis of biological tissue. We demonstrate this approach to characterize composition – structure – function of the vaginal fibromuscular wall for pelvic organ prolapse.