Abstract: A Raman silent substrate includes a base and a biologically compatible material layer over the base. The biologically compatible material layer is Raman silent, provides a predetermined capture efficiency corresponding to a desired application, and supports biological culturing. In certain implementations, the base comprises a glass layer and an aluminum layer between the glass layer and the biologically compatible material layer.

Abstract: A manufacturing method comprises collecting a sample from a cell culture used by a manufacturing application, and controlling a Raman spectrometer to collect a Raman spectrum of a targeted volume within the sample. The method further comprises obtaining reference spectra uniquely associated with a known cell line, which comprise at least two of: spectral measurements of mycoplasma by itself, a contaminated cell line, and a pure cell line. Moreover, the method comprises comparing the reference spectra to the collected spectrum, and identifying whether there is at least one unnatural molecular composition within the collected spectrum based upon the comparison of the reference spectra to the collected spectrum. An indication is provided as to whether mycoplasma is detected in the collected Raman spectrum where at least one unnatural molecular composition is identified within the collected spectrum, and the manufacturing application is stopped where mycoplasma is detected in the collected Raman spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a microscope objective focused on a microscope field of view; a light source including a laser generating an astigmatic beam and optics configured to couple the astigmatic beam into the microscope objective to produce high aspect ratio illumination at the microscope field of view; and a data acquisition system configured to generate data pertaining to light emanating from the microscope field of view responsive to the high aspect ratio illumination. The apparatus may be a Raman spectroscopy system. The laser may be an edge emitting laser. The optics of the light source may include an aspherical lens arranged to compensate the astigmatism of the astigmatic beam. The optics of the light source may include a diffraction grating arranged respective to the laser to provide feedback reducing a spectral full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the astigmatic beam.

Abstract: A sample is cleaned up for spectroscopic analysis by receiving a slide substrate having the sample thereon, fixing the sample to a substrate surface of the slide substrate by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined heating time and incubating the sample on the slide substrate for a predetermined incubation time after fixing the sample to the slide substrate. The sample is further cleaned by washing the sample on the slide substrate after the sample has been incubated and drying the sample by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined drying time, wherein the sample on the slide substrate after drying has retained particles of interest and interferant particles are removed from the substrate. A substrate is also provided for sample collection, which is culturable and Raman silent.

Abstract: Mycoplasma contamination of a known cell line is detected by collecting a Raman spectrum of a targeted volume within a sample, the targeted volume containing a known cell line of interest, obtaining a reference spectrum uniquely associated with the known cell line where the obtained reference spectrum is known to be free of mycoplasma and comparing, using a processing device, the reference spectrum to the collected spectrum. Mycoplasma is further detected by identifying whether there are unnatural molecular compositions within the collected spectrum based upon the comparison of the reference spectrum to the collected spectrum and providing an indication as to whether mycoplasma is detected in the collected Raman spectrum based upon whether unnatural molecular compositions are identified within the collected spectrum.

Abstract: A small area electrostatic aerosol collector combines electrostatic collection of aerosol particles and electrohydrodynamic spraying of fluid so that a sample collected electrostatically can have fluid applied thereto. The fluid may assist with disaggregation and/or desalinization of biological material collected onto a sample substrate. A controller associated with the collector may control an electrostatic charge device and a spraying device such that the charge device and spraying device may operate in alternating fashion, or the charge device and spraying device may operate simultaneously. Further, mechanical systems are provided, for the disaggregation of particulate clusters collected onto a sample substrate.

Abstract: A small area electrostatic aerosol collector combines electrostatic collection of aerosol particles and electrohydrodynamic spraying of fluid so that a sample collected electrostatically can have fluid applied thereto. The fluid may assist with disaggregation and/or desalinization of biological material collected onto a sample substrate. A controller associated with the collector may control an electrostatic charge device and a spraying device such that the charge device and spraying device may operate in alternating fashion, or the charge device and spraying device may operate simultaneously. Further, mechanical systems are provided, for the disaggregation of particulate clusters collected onto a sample substrate.

Abstract: A sample is cleaned up for spectroscopic analysis by receiving a slide substrate having the sample thereon, fixing the sample to a substrate surface of the slide substrate by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined heating time and incubating the sample on the slide substrate for a predetermined incubation time after fixing the sample to the slide substrate. The sample is further cleaned by washing the sample on the slide substrate after the sample has been incubated and drying the sample by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined drying time, wherein the sample on the slide substrate after drying has retained particles of interest and interferant particles are removed from the substrate. A substrate is also provided for sample collection, which is culturable and Raman silent.

Abstract: A sample is cleaned up for spectroscopic analysis by receiving a slide substrate having the sample thereon, fixing the sample to a substrate surface of the slide substrate by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined heating time and incubating the sample on the slide substrate for a predetermined incubation time after fixing the sample to the slide substrate. The sample is further cleaned by washing the sample on the slide substrate after the sample has been incubated and drying the sample by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined drying time, wherein the sample on the slide substrate after drying has retained particles of interest and interferant particles are removed from the substrate. A substrate is also provided for sample collection, which is culturable and Raman silent.

Abstract: Mycoplasma contamination of a known cell line is detected by collecting a Raman spectrum of a targeted volume within a sample, the targeted volume containing a known cell line of interest, obtaining a reference spectrum uniquely associated with the known cell line where the obtained reference spectrum is known to be free of mycoplasma and comparing, using a processing device, the reference spectrum to the collected spectrum. Mycoplasma is further detected by identifying whether there are unnatural molecular compositions within the collected spectrum based upon the comparison of the reference spectrum to the collected spectrum and providing an indication as to whether mycoplasma is detected in the collected Raman spectrum based upon whether unnatural molecular compositions are identified within the collected spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a microscope objective focused on a microscope field of view; a light source including a laser generating an astigmatic beam and optics configured to couple the astigmatic beam into the microscope objective to produce high aspect ratio illumination at the microscope field of view; and a data acquisition system configured to generate data pertaining to light emanating from the microscope field of view responsive to the high aspect ratio illumination. The apparatus may be a Raman spectroscopy system. The laser may be an edge emitting laser. The optics of the light source may include an aspherical lens arranged to compensate the astigmatism of the astigmatic beam. The optics of the light source may include a diffraction grating arranged respective to the laser to provide feedback reducing a spectral full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the astigmatic beam.

Abstract: Biological and chemical materials often contain many molecular bonds that connect carbon (C) hydrogen (H) atoms. These bonds covalently share electrons that can be optically activated by light. The incident light interaction with the C—H molecular bond spectrally shifts of the incident light proportional to the vibrational, or more precisely polarizability, constant of the electrons that bind the C—H atoms. This process is called Raman scattering. For C—H, C—H2 and C—H3 bonding schemes, the spectral shift is approximately 3000 cm?1 lower in energy from the incident light energy. Using this fundamental spectral shift coupled with optical microscopy, the ability to detect materials that possess C—Hx (where x=1, 2 or 3) is possible.

Abstract: A small area electrostatic aerosol collector combines electrostatic collection of aerosol particles and electrohydrodynamic spraying of fluid so that a sample collected electrostatically can have fluid applied thereto. The fluid may assist with disaggregation and/or desalinization of biological material collected onto a sample substrate. A controller associated with the collector may control an electrostatic charge device and a spraying device such that the charge device and spraying device may operate in alternating fashion, or the charge device and spraying device may operate simultaneously. Further, mechanical systems are provided, for the disaggregation of particulate clusters collected onto a sample substrate.

Abstract: A sample is cleaned up for spectroscopic analysis by receiving a slide substrate having the sample thereon, fixing the sample to a substrate surface of the slide substrate by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined heating time and incubating the sample on the slide substrate for a predetermined incubation time after fixing the sample to the slide substrate. The sample is further cleaned by washing the sample on the slide substrate after the sample has been incubated and drying the sample by applying heat to the slide substrate for a predetermined drying time, wherein the sample on the slide substrate after drying has retained particles of interest and interferant particles are removed from the substrate. A substrate is also provided for sample collection, which is culturable and Raman silent.

Abstract: Biological and chemical materials often contain many molecular bonds that connect carbon (C) hydrogen (H) atoms. These bonds covalently share electrons that can be optically activated by light. The incident light interaction with the C—H molecular bond spectrally shifts of the incident light proportional to the vibrational, or more precisely polarizability, constant of the electrons that bind the C—H atoms. This process is called Raman scattering. For C—H, C—H2 and C—H3 bonding schemes, the spectral shift is approximately 3000 cm?1 lower in energy from the incident light energy. Using this fundamental spectral shift coupled with optical microscopy, the ability to detect materials that possess C—Hx (where x=1, 2 or 3) is possible.