Nanoscale precision subcellular chemical identification using quantitative IR nanoimage analysis based on multiple-IR laser illumination

Advances in infrared (IR) nanoimaging as a non-invasive and robust method for the chemical discrimination of subcellular features and intracellular exogenous agents without the use of labels and at nanoscale resolutions are discussed. We outline a number of improvements in both quantitative IR nanoimage analysis and systemic improvements including multi-laserline illumination that, when combined, enables nanoscale chemical precision and subcellular chemical localization. Additionally, we demonstrate how a combination of IR absorption nanoimaging and topographic data can resolve sub-40nm resolution membrane boundaries and how by exploiting subcellular chemical density and complexity maps, illustrate the label free localization of nuclei for both healthy and cancerous cell lines. As many cell processes related to disease are governed by the position and dynamics of subcellular features, we interrogate the biochemical inhomogeneity of cancer cells as a means to explore the subcellular biomechanics underlying carcinogenesis.