Chemical imaging of fresh vascular smooth muscle cell response by epi‐detected stimulated Raman scattering

An understanding of deformation of cardiovascular tissue under hemodynamic load is crucial for understanding the health and disease of blood vessels. In the present work, an epi‐detected stimulated Raman scattering (epi‐SRS) imaging platform was designed for in situ functional imaging of vascular smooth muscle cells (VMSCs) in fresh coronary arteries. For the first time, the pressure‐induced morphological deformation of fresh VSMCs was imaged with no fixation and in a label‐free manner. The relation between the loading pressure and the morphological parameters, including angle and length of the VSMCs, were apparent. The morphological responses of VMSCs to drug treatment were also explored, to demonstrate the capability of functional imaging for VSMCs by this method. The time‐course imaging revealed the drug induced change in angle and length of VSMCs. The present study provides a better understanding of the biomechanical framework of blood vessels, as well as their responses to external stimulations, which are fundamental for developing new strategies for cardiovascular disease treatment.