Human metabolite detection by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Metabolites are important biomarkers in human body fluids, conveying direct information of cellular activities and physical conditions. Metabolite detection has long been a research hotspot in the field of biology and medicine. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), based on the molecular “fingerprint” of Raman spectrum and the enormous signal enhancement (down to a single-molecule level) by plasmonic nanomaterials, has proven to be a novel and powerful tool for metabolite detection. SERS provides favorable properties such as ultra-sensitive, label-free, rapid, specific, and non-destructive detection processes. In this review, we summarized the progress in recent 10 years on SERS-based sensing of endogenous metabolites at the cellular level, in tissues, and in biofluids, as well as drug metabolites in biofluids. We made detailed discussions on the challenges and optimization methods of SERS technique in metabolite detection. The combination of SERS with modern biomedical technology were also anticipated.

Towards Label-free detection of viral disease agents through their cell surface proteins: Rapid screening SARS-CoV-2 in biological specimens

“…The direct SERS detection of proteins requires their purification from the complex biological matrix [ 43 , 44 ]. Therefore, we synthesised a target-specific extractor substrate to bind the S1 protein from biological specimens.…”

Surface-Enhanced Raman Analysis of Uric Acid and Hypoxanthine Analysis in Fractionated Bodily Fluids

“…Bodily fluids are promising candidates for the application of vibrational spectroscopy, which can deliver crucial biochemical level information on patient health and indicate the presence of numerous pathologies [ 9 , 10 ]. Blood serum in particular potentially carries a wealth of important histological information whose determination could serve to improve early disease detection.…”

“…Blood serum in particular potentially carries a wealth of important histological information whose determination could serve to improve early disease detection. Saliva has been employed for oral cancer and dysplasia diagnostic [ 9 ]. Urea is the main molecular constituent and has similarly been investigated as liquid biopsy for cancer diagnostic [ 10 ].…”

“…SERS analysis of biofluids holds great potential for diagnostics, as suggested by the high accuracies, sensitivities and specificities reported to date for diagnosis of diseases [ 9 ]. Analysis of bodily fluids for disease diagnosis and health monitoring, from blood serum to tears, urine and saliva, represents a significantly less invasive approach than performing tissue biopsies, for example during cancer screening [ 10 ].…”

Recent Advances in Inflammatory Diagnosis with Graphene Quantum Dots Enhanced SERS Detection

“…The difference being that the resonances present are not exclusively of the intramolecular type. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy or SERS is also a method of Raman spectroscopy that has very high sensitivity in deciphering materials [ 115 , 116 , 117 ]. This method has numerous applications in medical science.…”