Rapid in vivo lipid/carbohydrate quantification of single microalgal cell by Raman spectral imaging to reveal salinity-induced starch-to-lipid shift.

In this study, we first demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can be used for starch quantification in addition to lipid quantification in algal cells. Due to the easiness and non-destructive nature of Raman spectroscopy, it makes a perfect tool for the further study of starch-lipid shift mechanism.