The method, demonstrated on mouse skin and lung tissue, combines label‑free Raman spectroscopy with spatial RNA sequencing to generate a set of Raman spectral peaks that correlate with the molecular signatures of senescent cells.
In experiments comparing 2‑month‑old and 26‑month‑old mice, the scientists observed a marked rise in lipid synthesis and accumulation in older cells, alongside tissue‑specific alterations such as disrupted collagen remodeling in skin and heightened immune‑related gene activity in lung.
By linking the most informative Raman bands to key gene‑expression markers, the team created a concise “barcode” that can flag senescent cells without destroying the sample, a capability the authors say could enable rapid, unbiased diagnostics.
The findings were published in Nature Aging and are part of the National Institutes of Health’s Cellular Senescence Network, an initiative aimed at deepening the understanding of senescence to inform therapeutic strategies.
Co‑senior authors Jeon Woong Kang, Peter So and Jian Shu envision future applications ranging from endoscopic devices that scan living tissue for senescence to high‑throughput screens of senolytic compounds, and they are already working on a faster Raman imaging system to make the approach clinically practical.
Current senescence markers like the proteins p16 and p21 require destructive assays; RamanOmics offers a tissue‑agnostic, scalable alternative that could support monitoring of age‑related disorders and evaluation of anti‑aging interventions.