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Verdin A, Malherbe C, Eppe G. Designing SERS nanotags for profiling overexpressed surface markers on single cancer cells: A review. Talanta 2024; 276:126225. [PMID: 38749157 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
This review focuses on the chemical design and the use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)-active nanotags for measuring surface markers that can be overexpressed at the surface of single cancer cells. Indeed, providing analytical tools with true single-cell measurements capabilities is capital, especially since cancer research is increasingly leaning toward single-cell analysis, either to guide treatment decisions or to understand complex tumor behaviour including the single-cell heterogeneity and the appearance of treatment resistance. Over the past two decades, SERS nanotags have triggered significant interest in the scientific community owing their advantages over fluorescent tags, mainly because SERS nanotags resist photobleaching and exhibit sharper signal bands, which reduces possible spectral overlap and enables the discrimination between the SERS signals and the autofluorescence background from the sample itself. The extensive efforts invested in harnessing SERS nanotags for biomedical purposes, particularly in cancer research, highlight their potential as the next generation of optical labels for single-cell studies. The review unfolds in two main parts. The first part focuses on the structure of SERS nanotags, detailing their chemical composition and the role of each building block of the tags. The second part explores applications in measuring overexpressed surface markers on single-cells. The latter encompasses studies using single nanotags, multiplexed measurements, quantitative information extraction, monitoring treatment responses, and integrating phenotype measurements with SERS nanotags on single cells isolated from complex biological matrices. This comprehensive review anticipates SERS nanotags to persist as a pivotal technology in advancing single-cell analytical methods, particularly in the context of cancer research and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Verdin
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium.
| | - Cedric Malherbe
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium
| | - Gauthier Eppe
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, MolSys Research Unit, University of Liège, Belgium
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2
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Deriu C, Thakur S, Tammaro O, Fabris L. Challenges and opportunities for SERS in the infrared: materials and methods. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2023; 5:2132-2166. [PMID: 37056617 PMCID: PMC10089128 DOI: 10.1039/d2na00930g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of a global, heightened interest towards biomarker and disease detection prompted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) positions itself again at the forefront of biosensing innovation. But is it ready to move from the laboratory to the clinic? This review presents the challenges associated with the application of SERS to the biomedical field, and thus, to the use of excitation sources in the near infrared, where biological windows allow for cell and through-tissue measurements. Two main tackling strategies will be discussed: (1) acting on the design of the enhancing substrate, which includes manipulation of nanoparticle shape, material, and supramolecular architecture, and (2) acting on the spectral collection set-up. A final perspective highlights the upcoming scientific and technological bets that need to be won in order for SERS to stably transition from benchtop to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Deriu
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino 10129 Turin Italy
| | - Shaila Thakur
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino 10129 Turin Italy
| | - Olimpia Tammaro
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino 10129 Turin Italy
| | - Laura Fabris
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino 10129 Turin Italy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University Piscataway NJ 08854 USA
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3
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Ali A, Nettey-Oppong EE, Effah E, Yu CY, Muhammad R, Soomro TA, Byun KM, Choi SH. Miniaturized Raman Instruments for SERS-Based Point-of-Care Testing on Respiratory Viruses. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12080590. [PMID: 36004986 PMCID: PMC9405795 DOI: 10.3390/bios12080590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used to diagnose several respiratory viruses (e.g., influenza A virus subtypes such as H1N1 and the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2), SERS is gaining popularity as a method for diagnosing viruses at the point-of-care. Although the prior and quick diagnosis of respiratory viruses is critical in the outbreak of infectious disease, ELISA, PCR, and RT-PCR have been used to detect respiratory viruses for pandemic control that are limited for point-of-care testing. SERS provides quantitative data with high specificity and sensitivity in a real-time, label-free, and multiplex manner recognizing molecular fingerprints. Recently, the design of Raman spectroscopy system was simplified from a complicated design to a small and easily accessible form that enables point-of-care testing. We review the optical design (e.g., laser wavelength/power and detectors) of commercialized and customized handheld Raman instruments. As respiratory viruses have prominent risk on the pandemic, we review the applications of handheld Raman devices for detecting respiratory viruses. By instrumentation and commercialization advancements, the advent of the portable SERS device creates a fast, accurate, practical, and cost-effective analytical method for virus detection, and would continue to attract more attention in point-of-care testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Ali
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur 65200, Pakistan;
| | - Ezekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea; (E.E.N.-O.); (E.E.); (C.Y.Y.); (R.M.)
| | - Elijah Effah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea; (E.E.N.-O.); (E.E.); (C.Y.Y.); (R.M.)
| | - Chan Yeong Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea; (E.E.N.-O.); (E.E.); (C.Y.Y.); (R.M.)
| | - Riaz Muhammad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea; (E.E.N.-O.); (E.E.); (C.Y.Y.); (R.M.)
| | - Toufique Ahmed Soomro
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Quid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Larkana 77150, Pakistan;
| | - Kyung Min Byun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Korea
- Department of Electronics and Information Convergence Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Korea
| | - Seung Ho Choi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Korea; (E.E.N.-O.); (E.E.); (C.Y.Y.); (R.M.)
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Major in Digital Healthcare, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06229, Korea
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4
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Plakas K, Rosch LE, Clark MD, Adbul-Rashed S, Shaffer TM, Harmsen S, Gambhir SS, Detty MR. Design and evaluation of Raman reporters for the Raman-silent region. Nanotheranostics 2022; 6:1-9. [PMID: 34976577 PMCID: PMC8671958 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.58965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is proving to be a useful tool for biomedical imaging. However, this imaging technique can suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio, as the complexity of biological tissues can lead to overlapping of Raman bands from tissues and the Raman reporter molecule utilized. Methods: Herein we describe the synthesis of triple bond containing Raman reporters that scatter light in the biological silent window, between 1750 cm-1 and 2750 cm-1. Results: Our SERS nanoprobes are comprised of uniquely designed Raman reporters containing either alkyne- or cyano-functional groups, enabling them to be readily distinguished from background biological tissue. Conclusion: We identify promising candidates that eventually can be moved forward as Raman reporters in SERS nanoparticles for highly specific contrast-enhanced Raman-based disease or analyte detection in biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Plakas
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Lauren E Rosch
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Michael D Clark
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Shukree Adbul-Rashed
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Travis M Shaffer
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Harmsen
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA
| | - Sanjiv S Gambhir
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford University (MIPS), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Material Science & Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Detty
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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5
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Andreiuk B, Nicolson F, Clark LM, Panikkanvalappil SR, Kenry, Rashidian M, Harmsen S, Kircher MF. Design and synthesis of gold nanostars-based SERS nanotags for bioimaging applications. Nanotheranostics 2022; 6:10-30. [PMID: 34976578 PMCID: PMC8671966 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.61244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanotags hold a unique place among bioimaging contrast agents due to their fingerprint-like spectra, which provide one of the highest degrees of detection specificity. However, in order to achieve a sufficiently high signal intensity, targeting capabilities, and biocompatibility, all components of nanotags must be rationally designed and tailored to a specific application. Design parameters include fine-tuning the properties of the plasmonic core as well as optimizing the choice of Raman reporter molecule, surface coating, and targeting moieties for the intended application. This review introduces readers to the principles of SERS nanotag design and discusses both established and emerging protocols of their synthesis, with a specific focus on the construction of SERS nanotags in the context of bioimaging and theranostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bohdan Andreiuk
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Fay Nicolson
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Louise M. Clark
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Kenry
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mohammad Rashidian
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Stefan Harmsen
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Moritz F. Kircher
- Department of Imaging, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Radiology, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 022115, USA
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6
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Du Z, Qi Y, He J, Zhong D, Zhou M. Recent advances in applications of nanoparticles in SERS in vivo imaging. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 13:e1672. [PMID: 33073511 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique has been regarded as one of the most important research methods in the field of single-molecule science. Since the previous decade, the application of nanoparticles for in vivo SERS imaging becomes the focus of research. To enhance the performance of SERS imaging, researchers have developed several SERS nanotags such as gold nanostars, copper-based nanomaterials, semiconducting quantum dots, and so on. The development of Raman equipment is also necessary owing to the current limitations. This review describes the recent advances of SERS nanoparticles and their applications for in vivo imaging in detail. Specific examples highlighting the in vivo cancer imaging and treatment application of SERS nanoparticles. A perspective on the challenges and opportunities of nanoparticles in SERS in vivo imaging is also provided. This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > in vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Du
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Yuchen Qi
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian He
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danni Zhong
- The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Zhou
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China.,The Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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7
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Ye H, Liu Y, Zhan L, Liu Y, Qin Z. Signal amplification and quantification on lateral flow assays by laser excitation of plasmonic nanomaterials. Theranostics 2020; 10:4359-4373. [PMID: 32292500 PMCID: PMC7150487 DOI: 10.7150/thno.44298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lateral flow assay (LFA) has become one of the most widely used point-of-care diagnostic methods due to its simplicity and low cost. While easy to use, LFA suffers from its low sensitivity and poor quantification, which largely limits its applications for early disease diagnosis and requires further testing to eliminate false-negative results. Over the past decade, signal enhancement strategies that took advantage of the laser excitation of plasmonic nanomaterials have pushed down the detection limit and enabled quantification of analytes. Significantly, these methods amplify the signal based on the current LFA design without modification. This review highlights these strategies of signal enhancement for LFA including surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), photothermal and photoacoustic methods. Perspectives on the rational design of the reader systems are provided. Future translation of the research toward clinical applications is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihang Ye
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Yaning Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
| | - Li Zhan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Yilin Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Zhenpeng Qin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
- Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, USA
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Lines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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8
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Wallace GQ, Masson JF. From single cells to complex tissues in applications of surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Analyst 2020; 145:7162-7185. [DOI: 10.1039/d0an01274b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This tutorial review explores how three of the most common methods for introducing nanoparticles to single cells for surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurements can be adapted for experiments with complex tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Q. Wallace
- Département de Chimie
- Centre Québécois des Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF)
- and Regroupement Québécois des Matériaux de Pointe (RQMP)
- Université de Montréal
- Montréal
| | - Jean-François Masson
- Département de Chimie
- Centre Québécois des Matériaux Fonctionnels (CQMF)
- and Regroupement Québécois des Matériaux de Pointe (RQMP)
- Université de Montréal
- Montréal
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9
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Ultrabright gap-enhanced Raman tags for high-speed bioimaging. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3905. [PMID: 31467266 PMCID: PMC6715656 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11829-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is advantageous over fluorescence for bioimaging due to ultra-narrow linewidth of the fingerprint spectrum and weak photo-bleaching effect. However, the existing SERS imaging speed lags far behind practical needs, mainly limited by Raman signals of SERS nanoprobes. In this work, we report ultrabright gap-enhanced Raman tags (GERTs) with strong electromagnetic hot spots from interior sub-nanometer gaps and external petal-like shell structures, larger immobilization surface area, and Raman cross section of reporter molecules. These GERTs reach a Raman enhancement factor beyond 5 × 109 and a detection sensitivity down to a single-nanoparticle level. We use a 370 μW laser to realize high-resolution cell imaging within 6 s and high-contrast (a signal-to-background ratio of 80) wide-area (3.2 × 2.8 cm2) sentinel lymph node imaging within 52 s. These nanoprobes offer a potential solution to overcome the current bottleneck in the field of SERS-based bioimaging. The speed of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) imaging is generally limited due to low Raman signals. Here, the authors develop bright gap-enhanced Raman tags with external hot spots and demonstrate their use in fast near-infrared bioimaging.
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10
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Pilot R, Signorini R, Durante C, Orian L, Bhamidipati M, Fabris L. A Review on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering. BIOSENSORS 2019; 9:E57. [PMID: 30999661 PMCID: PMC6627380 DOI: 10.3390/bios9020057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 330] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has become a powerful tool in chemical, material and life sciences, owing to its intrinsic features (i.e., fingerprint recognition capabilities and high sensitivity) and to the technological advancements that have lowered the cost of the instruments and improved their sensitivity and user-friendliness. We provide an overview of the most significant aspects of SERS. First, the phenomena at the basis of the SERS amplification are described. Then, the measurement of the enhancement and the key factors that determine it (the materials, the hot spots, and the analyte-surface distance) are discussed. A section is dedicated to the analysis of the relevant factors for the choice of the excitation wavelength in a SERS experiment. Several types of substrates and fabrication methods are illustrated, along with some examples of the coupling of SERS with separation and capturing techniques. Finally, a representative selection of applications in the biomedical field, with direct and indirect protocols, is provided. We intentionally avoided using a highly technical language and, whenever possible, intuitive explanations of the involved phenomena are provided, in order to make this review suitable to scientists with different degrees of specialization in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pilot
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- Consorzio INSTM, via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Raffaella Signorini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- Consorzio INSTM, via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Christian Durante
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- Consorzio INSTM, via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Laura Orian
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- Consorzio INSTM, via G. Giusti 9, 50121 Firenze, Italy.
| | - Manjari Bhamidipati
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, 599 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Laura Fabris
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University, 607 Taylor Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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Lane LA, Xue R, Nie S. Emergence of two near-infrared windows for in vivo and intraoperative SERS. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2018; 45:95-103. [PMID: 29631122 PMCID: PMC6076872 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Two clear windows in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum are of considerable current interest for in vivo molecular imaging and spectroscopic detection. The main rationale is that near-infrared light can penetrate biological tissues such as skin and blood more efficiently than visible light because these tissues scatter and absorb less light at longer wavelengths. The first clear window, defined as light wavelengths between 650nm and 950nm, has been shown to be far superior for in vivo and intraoperative optical imaging than visible light. The second clear window, operating in the wavelength range of 1000-1700nm, has been reported to further improve detection sensitivity, spatial resolution, and tissue penetration because tissue photon scattering and background interference are further reduced at longer wavelengths. Here we discuss recent advances in developing biocompatible plasmonic nanoparticles for in vivo and intraoperative surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in both the first and second NIR windows. In particular, a new class of 'broad-band' plasmonic nanostructures is well suited for surface Raman enhancement across a broad range of wavelengths allowing a direct comparison of detection sensitivity and tissue penetration between the two NIR window. Also, optimized and encoded SERS nanoparticles are generally nontoxic and are much brighter than near-infrared quantum dots (QDs), raising new possibilities for ultrasensitive detection of microscopic tumors and image-guided precision surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas A Lane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ruiyang Xue
- Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shuming Nie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Departments of Bioengineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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