Olympus has launched a Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) attachment for its Fluoview FV1000-MPE multiphoton system.
This attachment enables researchers to incorporate CARS microscopy into their research.
The unit is designed to work with the lasers that come with the multiphoton system; users do not need to purchase an additional femtosecond or picosecond laser for CARS microscopy.
CARS microscopy uses lasers to produce microscope images based upon molecular vibrations.
It is said to have many advantages, particularly when used in conjunction with other imaging modalities.
According to Olympus, CARS offers good 3D resolution, chemical selectivity and the ability to image without fluorescent labelling.
In addition, it uses long wavelengths of light, helping minimise photodamage to cells.
Its ability to probe lipids makes CARS microscopy a useful tool for the study of myelin sheath (for research relating to multiple sclerosis and other diseases), the impact of obesity on cancer and cardiovascular disease, membrane organisation, 3D cell morphology, intracellular lipid bodies, drug delivery formulations, skin/cosmetics and more.
The use of longer wavelengths helps CARS pair well with multiphoton microscopy, a technique for imaging deep within tissue that also employs long-wavelength lasers.
