Introduction to the Fundamentals of Raman Spectroscopy

Developments in Raman Spectromicroscopy for Strengthening Materials and Natural Science Research: Shaping the Future of Physical Chemistry

Spectroscopic techniques, especially Raman spectroscopy, cover a large subset in the teaching and research domain of physical chemistry. Raman spectroscopy, and other Raman based techniques, establishes itself as a powerful analytical tool with diverse applications across scientific, industrial, and natural science (including biology and pharmacy) fields and helps in the progress of physical chemistry. Recent advancements and future prospects in Raman spectroscopy, focusing on key areas of innovation and potential directions for research and development, have been highlighted here along with some of the challenges that need to be addressed to prepare Raman based techniques for the future. Significant progress has been made in enhancing the sensitivity, spatial resolution, and time resolution of Raman spectroscopy techniques. Raman spectroscopy has applications in all areas of research but especially in biomedical applications, where Raman spectroscopy holds a great promise for noninvasive or minimally invasive diagnosis, tissue imaging, and drug monitoring. Improvements in instrumentation and laser technologies have enabled researchers to achieve higher sensitivity levels, investigate smaller sample areas with improved spatial resolution, and capture dynamic processes with high temporal resolution. These advancements have paved the way for a deeper understanding of molecular structure, chemical composition, and dynamic behavior in various materials and biological systems. It is high time that we consider whether Raman based techniques are ready to be improved based on the strength of the current era of AI/ML and quantum technology.

Fano-type discrete-continuum interaction in perovskites and its manifestation in Raman spectral line shapes

Fano resonance is one of the most significant physical phenomena that correlates microscopic processes with macroscopic manifestations for experimental observations using different spectroscopic techniques. Owing to its importance, a focused study is required to clearly understand the origin of certain modifications in spectral behaviour, the nature of which is different for different materials. This means that a careful understanding of Fano interactions can enhance the understanding of several technologically important materials, including perovskites, which are also important in the area of energy storage and conversion. In semiconductors and nano materials (including 2-D materials), Fano interactions occur due to the intervalence or interconduction band transitions. However, in perovskites, Fano interactions are dominated by the interaction between polar phonons or excitons with electronic continuum. Raman spectroscopy, being a sensitive and non-destructive tool, detects subtle scale phenomena, such as Fano interactions, by analysing the Raman line shape. Herein, different dimensions associated with the identification and thereafter the origin of the Fano resonance in perovskites, which are used in energy related areas, have been highlighted using Raman scattering.

Raman spectroscopy for viral diagnostics

Raman spectroscopy offers the potential for fingerprinting biological molecules at ultra-low concentration and therefore has potential for the detection of viruses. Here we review various Raman techniques employed for the investigation of viruses. Different Raman techniques are discussed including conventional Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, Raman tweezer, tip-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering can play an essential role in viral detection by multiplexing nanotechnology, microfluidics, and machine learning for ensuring spectral reproducibility and efficient workflow in sample processing and detection. The application of these techniques to diagnose the SARS-CoV-2 virus is also reviewed.

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Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12551-023-01059-4.

Optical detection of microplastics in water

Unfortunately, the plastic pollution increases at an exponential rate and drastically endangers the marine ecosystem. According to World Health Organization (WHO), microplastics in drinking water have become a concern and may be a risk to human health. One of the major efforts to fight against this problem is developing easy-to-use, low-cost, portable microplastic detection systems. To address this issue, here, we present our prototype device based on an optical system that can help detect the microplastics in water. This system that costs less than $370 is essentially a low-cost Raman spectrometer. It includes a collimated laser (5 mW), a sample holder, a notch filter, a diffraction grating, and a CCD sensor all integrated in a 3D printed case. Our experiments show that our system is capable of detecting microplastics in water having a concentration less than 0.015% w/v. We believe that the designed portable device can find a widespread use all over the world to monitor the microplastic content in an easier and cost-effective manner.

Quantitative detection of 6-thioguanine in body fluids based on a free-standing liquid membrane SERS substrate

The adverse reactions caused by 6-thioguanine (6-TG) in anti-cancer treatment are closely related to the dose, leading to the urgent need for clinical monitoring of its concentration. In this work, a highly reproducible free-standing liquid membrane (FLM) surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate was developed to detect 6-TG in human urine and serum quantitatively. Briefly, a prepared sample was adjusted to pH 2 and mixed with concentrated core-shell bimetallic nanoparticle (Ag_coreAu_shell NP) suspension. The Au/Ag ratio of the Ag_coreAu_shell NPs was optimized. Then the mixture was formed into an FLM using a custom mold. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the experimental results can be stabilized below 10% (n ≥ 10). The R² of the calibration curve in the range of 10 ~ 100 μg kg^-1 was 0.988. In addition, the limit of detection (LOD) (3σ/k) of 6-TG was 5 μg kg^-1. The FLM SERS platform has been successfully applied to the rapid and reliable analysis of 6-TG spiked in body fluids.

Lindavia intermedia (Bacillariophyceae) and Nuisance lake Snow in New Zealand: Chitin Content and Quantitative PCR Methods to Estimate Cell Concentrations and Expression of Chitin Synthase1

Lake snow, caused by the freshwater centric diatom Lindavia intermedia, has become problematic in several large, oligotrophic New Zealand lakes over the past decade. Macroaggregates produced by L. intermedia foul fishing lines, intake screens, and water filters, and have a negative impact on recreational values. It was confirmed that the fibers constituting lake snow are composed of chitin, two chitin synthase genes (chs1 and 2) from L. intermedia were characterized, new qPCR-based tools to quantify the abundance of the species and measure expression of chs2 relative to the reference gene act1 (the product of which has cytoskeletal functions) were developed. The strong heterogeneity and mucilaginous nature of lake snow samples create particular difficulties for calibrations of gene or transcript copy numbers with cell densities and obtaining high yields of mRNA. However, data collected from four lakes during November 2018 and February and May 2019 show that abundance of L. intermedia is always high when lake snow is also abundant, but that a full range of L. intermedia abundance can occur when lake snow is absent, suggesting that chitin production is not obligate in L. intermedia. This result is consistent with the available data for chs2 expression, which suggest higher transcription when lake snow is abundant. Lake snow production by L. intermedia therefore requires an as yet undetermined stimulus independent of cell abundance.