Spectroscopic imaging of serum proteins using quantum cascade lasers

Abstract

First measurements of biomedical imaging using quantum cascade lasers (QCL) are presented. We report spectroscopic imaging of serum proteins using QCLs as an example for monitoring surface biocontamination. We found that dry smears of human serum can be spectroscopically imaged, identified, and quantified with high sensitivity and specificity. The core parts of the imaging platform consist of optically multiplexing three QCLs and an uncooled microbolometer camera. We show imaging of human serum proteins at 6.1, 9.25, and 9.5 μm QCLs with high sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity limit of 3 μg/cm² of the human serum spot was measured at an S/N=3.The specificity of human serum detection was measured at 99% probability at a threshold of 77 μg/cm². We anticipate our imaging technique to be a starting point for more sophisticated biomolecular diagnostic applications.