To Acquire or\nNot to Acquire: Evaluating Compressive\nSensing for Raman Spectroscopy in Biology

Raman spectroscopy has revolutionized the field of chemical\nbiology\nby providing detailed chemical and compositional information with\nminimal sample preparation. Despite its advantages, the technique\nsuffers from low throughput due to the weak Raman effect, necessitating\nlong acquisition times and expensive equipment. This limitation is\nparticularly acute in time-sensitive applications like bioprocess\nmonitoring and dynamic studies. Compressive sensing offers a promising\nsolution by reducing the burden on measurement hardware, lowering\ncosts, and decreasing measurement times. It allows for the collection\nof sparse data, which can be computationally reconstructed later.\nThis paper explores the practical application of compressive sensing\nin spontaneous Raman spectroscopy across various biological samples.\nWe demonstrate its benefits in scenarios requiring portable hardware,\nrapid acquisition, and minimal storage, such as skin hydration prediction\nand cellular studies involving drug molecules. Our findings highlight\nthe potential of compressive sensing to overcome traditional limitations\nof Raman spectroscopy, paving the way for broader adoption in biological\nresearch and clinical diagnostics.