Raman spectroscopy has been used to show that graphene has the potential to replace carbon fibres in high performance materials that are used to build aircraft. Graphene—discovered in 2004 by physicists Professor Andre Geim and Dr Kostya Novoselov at The University of Manchester—is a two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms that resembles chicken wire.

The problem of detecting, recognising and identifying explosives at significant standoff distances has proved one of the most difficult—and most important—challenges during recent years, being today, one of the most demanding applications of spectroscopic techniques. The limited number of sophisticated available techniques potentially capable of standoff detection of minimal amounts of explosives is based on laser spectroscopy. Of the recently developed techniques, Raman spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are considered significant for their potential for homeland defence applications.

 

Here, we focus on new trends in Raman spectroscopy to improve in vivo diagnosis. The use of Raman spectroscopy for real-time diagnosis of medical disease without the need for biopsy is among the most exciting and clinically relevant applications; four recent reports are presented. First, an approach to reduce fluorescent background of lung tissue in combination with a biomedical filtered Raman fibre optic probe was introduced in 2009 by Magee et al. Second, a fibre optic probe was developed for the CARS variant of Raman spectroscopy. Third, functional metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes were applied to a small animal model to collect Raman spectra non-invasively utilising the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect. Finally, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) has been presented as another non-invasive Raman-based method to probe deep bone subcutaneously in an animal model.

 

Symbion Systems has announced the release of its driver for Kaiser Optical Systems RamanRxn systems analysers.

WITec has introduced a line extension of the alpha300 microscope series. Building on the system's inherent modularity, several new microscope versions have been added in order to meet all diverse and multi-faceted customer requirements.

The inability to have children can cause great heartache for many couples, with infertility affecting at least one-in-six couples in Britain and one-in-eight in the United States. The most common cause is male infertility, usually characterised by sperm with little or no mobility. One treatment commonly used in these cases is in vitro fertilisation (IVF). This involves injecting sperm into the egg in a laboratory.

Scientists from Ruhr-Universität Bochum have used Raman micro-spectroscopy to distinguish, within seconds, healthy fertile and infertile sperm cells. The method has the potential for a novel fertility technology and a test scheme which does not only rely on morphological characteristics, but also utilises chemical signatures.

The location of metal complexes within living cancer cells has been accurately determined using Raman microscopy. The researchers have thus gained new insights into the mechanism of action of metal-containing drugs, to which they ascribe great potential capacities, e.g. in the treatment of cancer. These findings are of fundamental significance and are thus featured as a VIP (very important paper) in the current edition of Angewandte Chemie.

Patrik Johanssona and A.M.C. DaviesbaApplied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-41296 Göteborg, SwedenbNorwich Near Infrared Consultancy, 75 Intwood Road, Cringleford, Norwich NR4 6AA, UK. E-mail: td@nnirc.co.uk

Introduction

In last year’s August/September issue of Spectroscopy Europe1 I wrote a column about my “discovery” of computational chemistry and asked if anyone was interested. A satisfying number of readers answered the on-line survey with very positive comments but none more so than Patrik Johansson who e-mailed me about his delight with the column and to assure me that there was “indeed a bunch of scientists out there that do work on IR (and Raman) using both experimental and computational techniques—I am one of them”! This column is the first result of the ensuing e-mail conversation and is due to Patrik. I remain excited by the possibilities of computational chemistry particularly as Patrik thinks that an approach to NIR spectroscopy is indeed possible.Tony Davies

Jean-Philippe Echarda and Loïc BertrandbaLaboratoire de recherche et de restauration, Musée de la musique, Cité de la musique, 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, France. E-mail: jpechard@cite-musique.frbIPANEMA, synchrotron SOLEIL, Saint-Aubin, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette cedex, France

Introduction

For the past two centuries, the nature of the varnishes coating historical instruments has been a much debated subject. Focusing in particular on the varnishes used for coating violins made by the Italian instrument-maker Antonio Stradivari, numerous hypotheses have been raised by instrument-makers, experts, musicians and chemists, without reaching a general understanding of the ancient varnishing techniques. A few years ago, we decided to work on this topic using several complementary approaches for materials characterisation and study of historical sources (ancient varnish recipes, etc.).

ChemImage will present the results of an ingredient-specific particle sizing (ISPST) study on a combination metered dose inhaler product at Respiratory Drug Delivery (RDD) 2010 (www.rddonline.com). This conference takes place from 25 to 29 April in Orlando, Florida, USA, and covers current biological and pharmaceutical issues related to nasal and respiratory drug delivery.

Using a novel hybrid sensor system, based on Shamrock spectrometers and high performance intensified CCD detectors supplied by Andor Technology, Spanish scientists have been able to use both Raman and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) simultaneously for the instant, remote standoff analysis of explosive materials.

Jasco’s NRS-5000/7000 series of Raman spectrometers can integrate as many as eight excitation lasers (nine wavelengths) from the UV to the NIR, with automated laser/Raman scattering path alignment, automated grating and laser selection and up to two detectors. The NRS-5100/5200 instruments feature a 300 mm spectrograph and three selectable gratings. The NRS-7100/7200 instruments include a 500 mm spectrograph and up to four selectable gratings. The NRS-5200 and NRS-7200 instruments offer a dual-grating, low wavenumber measurement unit for optimised Raleigh rejection and Raman spectra down to 10 cm–1. The NRS-5000/7000 instruments offer high-speed imaging capability using the Software Programmable Raman Integration System (SPRIntS) for rapid scanning and sample imaging capabilities. The Verti-Scan capability ensures a consistent confocal sample excitation capability to obtain undistorted 3D images, without the use of an automated X-Y-Z sample stage. The Dual Spatial Filtering capability reduces sample fluorescence while enhancing spatial resolution.

Ahura Scientific, Inc., has announced the close of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.’s acquisition of the company. The acquisition expands Thermo Fisher’s technology portfolio with a suite ofportable spectrometers.

Ahura Scientific, now part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, have introduced the FirstDefender RM and FirstDefender RMX, rugged handheld Raman spectrometers for use by first responders, homeland security, military, law enforcement and forensic chemistry personnel. The instruments allow users to quickly identify unknown chemicals from a vast sample library of more than 10,000 pure substances including: explosives, toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), toxic industrial materials (TIMs), chemical warfare agents (CWAs), white powders, narcotics, precursors and more. Ahura Scientific’s chemometric algorithms enable automatic mixture analysis with every scan. Both instruments are certified to US military’s MIL-STD 810F specifications for ruggedness including drop, shock, vibration and operation in extreme temperatures.

Thermo Fisher Scientific has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ahura Scientific, manufacturer of portable spectrometers, for $145 million in cash plus the potential for an earn-out payment based on the achievement of certain 2010 financial targets. The acquisition expands Thermo’s portfolio of portable instruments; they already have a line of portable XRF analysers.  www.thermofisher.com,  www.ahurascientific.com

Sword Diagnostics has been awarded a US Patent titled Method and Apparatus for Detection of Biological Organisms using Raman Scattering. The patent covers the core technology which focuses on improved sensitivity. www.sworddiagnostics.com