SERS Microscopy: Nanoparticle Probes and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) microscopy is a novel method of vibrational microspectroscopic imaging for the selective detection of biomolecules in targeted research. This technique combines the advantages of biofunctionalized metal nanoparticles and Raman microspectroscopy for visualizing and quantifying the distribution of target molecules such as proteins in cells and tissues. Advantages of SERS over existing labeling approaches include the tremendous multiplexing capacity, quantification using the characteristic SERS signatures and high photostability. This review summarizes current designs of nanoparticle-based SERS probes and highlights first biomedical applications of SERS microscopy for protein localization ex and in vivo.

Gold nanoparticles explore cells: Cellular uptake and their use as intracellular probes

“…SERS is a highly sensitive, label-free, non-destructive and non-invasive method which allows for molecular identification giving it several advantages over other imaging techniques such as fluorescence, infrared, UV-visible or NMR [4][5][6][7]. In SERS, the otherwise extremely weak Raman scattering signal [8] is enhanced by several orders of magnitude by ensuring that the molecule is in very close vicinity of nanoparticles or of a nanostructured gold or silver surface [7,9,10].…”

“…The SERS spectrum is a vibrational 'fingerprint' which characterises the chemical bonds and symmetry of the molecule. [4] Recently, nanoparticle-based SERS has been employed in many biomedical applications from chemical sensing [11][12][13] to cancer detection in body fluids and tissues [14][15][16][17].…”

Rational design and synthesis of SERS labels

“…17,20,26 Using a SAM of Raman reporter molecules has several advantages. 17,20,24,26,28 Reproducible SERS signatures are obtained due to the dense packing and uniform orientation of the Raman reporter molecules within the SAM relative to the surface normal of the metal colloid. 24,94,95 The dense packing of Raman reporter molecules within the SAM also avoids or at least minimizes unwanted spectral interferences from other molecules on the metal surface, e.g., via adsorption from the surrounding medium.…”

“…[25][26][27][28] In SERS NP labels/nanotags, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Raman labels/reporter molecules are permanently adsorbed onto the surface of the metal colloid (Fig. 1).…”

Optical Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles for SERS Detection of Proteins and Toxins in Liquid Environment: Towards Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection

“…Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) [1,2] has proven to be an extraordinary tool for 30 direct (label-free) detection of biological entities and biomedical applications [3,4,5]. The huge 31 amplification of the electric field provided by the resonant excitation of localized surface plasmons…”