Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Raman imaging as a window into cellular complexity: a future perspective

Nature Methods volume 22, pages 890–892 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Raman microscopy enables label-free, high-resolution molecular imaging, treating the entire Raman spectrum as a phenotype for profiling cell heterogeneity. While challenges remain in speed, sensitivity and resolution, advancements in coherent Raman scattering, spatial multiplexing and Raman probe techniques continue to expand its potential for characterizing complex biological systems and fostering exploratory and data-driven biology.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Hyperspectral Raman imaging captures high-dimensional molecular data from living cells, providing detailed insights into cell species, states and activities.

References

  1. Cutshaw, G. et al. Chem. Rev. 123, 8297–8346 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Kobayashi-Kirschvink, K. J. et al. Nat. Biotechnol. 42, 1726–1734 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Dodo, K., Fujita, K. & Sodeoka, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 19651–19667 (2022).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang, C., Zhang, D. & Cheng, J.-X. Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 17, 415–445 (2015).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Gala de Pablo, J., Lindley, M., Hiramatsu, K. & Goda, K. Acc. Chem. Res. 54, 2132–2143 (2021).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Palonpon, A. F. et al. Nat. Protoc. 8, 677–692 (2013).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Min, W. & Gao, X. Sci. Adv. 10, eadm8424 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Mizushima, K. et al. Sci. Adv. 10, eadn0110 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhu, Y. et al. Sci. Adv. 9, eadi2181 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Wei, L. et al. Nature 544, 465–470 (2017).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Bai, Y., Yin, J. & Cheng, J.-X. Sci. Adv. 7, eabg1559 (2021).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Bi, X., Czajkowsky, D. M., Shao, Z. & Ye, J. Nature 628, 771–775 (2024).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, C. et al. Nat. Commun. 12, 3405 (2021).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Sigle, M. et al. Nat. Commun. 14, 5799 (2023).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Li, M. & Fujita, K. Spectroscopy 39, 28–31 (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author thank K. Bando for contributing images and illustrations for Fig. 1. ChatGPT was used to improve readability.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, The University of Osaka, Osaka, Japan

    Katsumasa Fujita

Authors
  1. Katsumasa Fujita
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katsumasa Fujita.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author is a co-founder of Millde, Co., Ltd.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fujita, K. Raman imaging as a window into cellular complexity: a future perspective. Nat Methods 22, 890–892 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-025-02644-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-025-02644-z

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing