Enhanced tri-modal Optical-Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy – advances in spatial resolution, sensitivity & tri-modality (IR, Raman & Fluorescence)

Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy has established itself as a cutting edge vibrational microspectroscopy tool, offering significant advantages over traditional FTIR/QCL and Raman spectroscopic tools, providing submicron simultaneous IR+Raman microscopy, in non-contact mode with high sensitivity. A new modality, “counter-propagating” has been engineered to provide for enhanced IR (and Raman) spatial resolution and sensitivity, with the use of high NA refractive objectives. This improves spatial resolution to ~300nm for both IR and Raman, whilst also improving sensitivity, image quality and facilitating immersion objective studies in fluid. Further, we coupled a widefield epifluorescence to facilitate a novel concept – fluorescence guided (or fluorescence co-located) O-PTIR microspectroscopy. Several life sciences examples from bacteria, cells and tissues will be provided to demonstrate these capabilities and how they can enable new experiments and research findings.