Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering for medical diagnostics and biological imaging

Abstract

We present recent development and applications of a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology for use in medical diagnostics and biological imaging. For medical diagnostics, we use Raman-active dye-labeled DNA gene probes and nanostructured metallic substrates as SERS-active platforms. The surface-enhanced Raman gene probes can be used to detect DNA biotargets (e.g. gene sequences, bacteria and viral DNA) via hybridization to DNA sequences complementary to these probes. The SERS gene probes eliminate the need for radioactive labels and have great potential to provide both sensitivity, selectivity and label multiplexing for DNA sequencing and clinical assays. We also describe a hyperspectral surface-enhanced Raman imaging (HSERI) system that combines imaging capabilities with SERS detection to identify cellular components with high spatial and temporal resolution. The HSERI system's application to biological imaging is demonstrated using Raman dye-labeled silver nanoparticles in cellular systems.

Novel imaging tools for investigating the role of immune signalling in the brain

“…This is illustrated in in Figure 3 for the simple case of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Since this method does not require labelling of the targets before measuring it has the potential to allow for in vivo analysis of biological samples (Freudiger et al 2008;Vo-Dinh et al 2005) and has found applications in brain lipid identification (Krafft et al 2005).…”

Double Amino Functionalized Ag Nanoparticles as SERS Tags in Raman Diagnostic

“…[1][2][3] Improved understanding of the mechanisms that are responsible for the effect coupled to the progresses in current technology make the use of SERS/SERRS much simpler than has been the case in the past. A critical review recently provided the latest methods for the metabolic fingerprinting using vibrational techniques as potential tools for rapid disease diagnosis, detection of dysfunction, the early intervention of therapeutic strategies, highlighting their overall conclusions that IR and Raman techniques could be successfully applied in such medical area.…”

“…1 Among other dye reporters, Vo-Dinh et al 1 used cresyl fast violet (CFV), cresyl violet acetate (CVA), and the silver colloidal nanoparticles prepared according to the method reported by Leopold and Lendl. 15 with an average diameter of about 23 nm (as examined by TEM measurements).…”

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy: advancements and applications

“…They also describe a hyper-spectral surface-enhanced Raman imaging (HSERI) system with high spatial and temporal resolution. 41 To prevent the structural and functional changes due to interaction of biomolecules with the substrate, Thoreson and co-workers developed adaptive silver films in which the biomaterial and the substrate act in concert to produce excellent Raman enhancement through local restructuring of the metal surface. These films show great promise for SERS of many different types of biomolecules.…”