This talk will be given by Dimirios Tsikritsis, IBioE PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. Pizza will be available from 12.45pm, and the seminar will start at 1pm in CR6 in Hudson Beare http://www.ed.ac.uk/maps?building=hudson-beare-building

Abstract:
Raman spectroscopy uses laser light to excite vibrational bonds, so can measure the chemistry within a focussed laser spot. It has a wide range of applications from geology and arts, to biology. In this seminar the applications of Raman in biology will be described, and our use in distinguishing cancer cells. The main benefit of Raman spectroscopy is that it is a non-destructive, label-free technique for sensing the vibrational bonds of biomolecules within individual cells. This laser spectroscopy can be performed in imaging mode, and applied to cancer cells and tissue. By combining with other imaging modes we can image different biochemical species which are associated with cancer - namely elastin, collagen, porphyrins, and proteins.