Raman nanoparticle probes for antibody-based protein detection in tissues

SERS nanotags for folate receptor α detection at the single cell level: discrimination of overexpressing cells and potential for live cell applications

Development of nanotags based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) for the discrimination of cancer cells overexpressing folate receptor α. Nanotags are also applicable for live cell measurements.

Spatially resolved determination of the abundance of the HER2 marker in microscopic breast tumors using targeted SERS imaging

Highly selective nanoprobes have been developed based on SERS-active Au@Ag nanoparticles protected by a PEG coating and functionalized with monoclonal antibodies against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The PEG coating allows to drastically reduce unspecific interactions during incubation on tissues, while the monoclonal antibodies allow a highly specific targeting of HER2. Using the designed SERS nanoprobes combined with a spectral imaging and data weighting approach, we demonstrate the proportionality between the SERS signal and the amount of HER2 antigen on the cell membranes as measured by digital image analysis of IHC staining in microscopic breast tumors (linear fit R² = 0.87). We also show that the level of expression of HER2 measured by SERS is significantly different between several microscopic tumor parts of the same tissue slide. Therefore, SERS is proving to be a suitable technique for the localized quantitative measurement of specific markers in breast cancerous tissues. Owing to its high multiplexing capabilities, SERS could be a future tool of choice for characterizing the molecular heterogeneity of tumors at the microscopic scale.

Fine synthesis of Prussian-blue analogue coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PBA NPs) for sorting specific cancer cell subtypes

Multiplex surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of markers without background in tumor biosystems has its superiority over other optical methods. Herein, we reported a strategy of quantitative discrimination of two breast cancer cell subtypes. Based on our previous studies, two kinds of Prussian blue analogue coated gold nanoparticles (Au@PBA NPs) were designed and synthesized by the replacement of Fe²⁺ with Pb²⁺ or Cu²⁺. Therefore, two distinct SERS emissions of C≡N bonds at 2122 cm^-1 and 2176 cm^-1 have been acquired. When modified with aptamers of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which are both expressed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines but in different levels, the SERS nanoprobes simultaneously identified the relative expression of these biomarkers on the cell surface, providing a good example for ratiometric detection in biosystems without any interference. Each surface marker of tumor cells corresponds to a single SERS emission. Thus, each subtype could be described in a molecular profiling way through duplex C≡N bonds-based SERS emission, which is more advanced than traditional flow cytometry method.

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based probe method for detecting chromogranin A in adrenal tumors

Aim: We aim to demonstrate that a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe can be effectively used for protein detection in adrenal tumors. Materials & methods: The SERS probe method, which uses Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles conjugated with a CgA antibody and a SERS reporter, was applied to detect CgA in adrenal tumors. Results: Our data reveal that the results of the CgA-SERS probe method were almost identical to those of western blot and superior to those of traditional immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: This study offers a novel strategy to detect CgA in adrenal tumors and provides more reliable protein test results than traditional immunohistochemistry analysis for adrenal pathologists, meaning that it might be a better clinical reference for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.

SERS-Active Substrate with Collective Amplification Design for Trace Analysis of Pesticides

Health risks posed by the exposure to trace amounts of pesticide residue in agricultural products have gained a lot of concerns, due to their neurotoxic nature. The applications of surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) as a detection technique have consistently shown its potential as a rapid and sensitive means with minimal sample preparation. In this study, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in elliptical shapes were collected into a layer of ordered zirconia concave pores. The porous zirconia layer (pZrO₂) was then deposited with Au NPs, denoted as Au NPs (x)/pZrO₂, where x indicates the deposition thickness of Au NPs in nm. In the concave structure of pZrO₂, Au-ZrO₂ and Au-Au interactions provide a synergistic and physical mechanism of SERS, which is anticipated to collect and amplify SERS signals and thereafter improve the enhancement factor (EF) of Au NPs/pZrO₂. By taking Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as the test molecule, EF of Au NPs/pZrO₂ might reach to 7.0 × 10⁷. Au NPs (3.0)/pZrO₂ was then optimized and competent to detect pesticides, e.g., phosmet and carbaryl at very low concentrations, corresponding to the maximum residue limits of each, i.e., 0.3 ppm and 0.2 ppm, respectively. Au NPs (3.0)/pZrO₂ also showed the effectiveness of distinguishing between phosmet and carbaryl under mixed conditions. Due to the strong affinities of the phosphoric groups and sulfur in phosmet to the Au NPs (3.0)/pZrO₂, the substrate exhibited selective detection to this particular pesticide. In this study, Au NPs (3.0)/pZrO₂ has thus demonstrated trace detection of residual pesticides, due to the substrate design that intended to provide collective amplification of SERS.

Plasmonic nanoparticle-based expansion microscopy with surface-enhanced Raman and dark-field spectroscopic imaging

Fluorescence-based expansion microscopy (ExM) is a new technique which can yield nanoscale resolution of biological specimen on a conventional fluorescence microscope through physical sample expansion up to 20 times its original dimensions while preserving structural information. It however inherits known issues of fluorescence microscopy such as photostability and multiplexing capabilities, as well as an ExM-specific issue in signal intensity reduction due to a dilution effect after expansion. To address these issues, we propose using antigen-targeting plasmonic nanoparticle labels which can be imaged using surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (SERS) and dark-field spectroscopy. We demonstrate that the nanoparticles enable multimodal imaging: bright-field, dark-field and SERS, with excellent photostability, contrast enhancement and brightness.

New insights of Raman spectroscopy for oral clinical applications

Oral injuries are currently diagnosed by histopathological analysis of biopsy, which is an invasive procedure and does not give immediate results.

Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

Rational design of Raman-labeled nanoparticles for a dual-modality, light scattering immunoassay on a polystyrene substrate

Background

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful light scattering technique that can be used for sensitive immunoassay development and cell labeling. A major obstacle to using SERS is the complexity of fabricating SERS probes since they require nanoscale characterization and optical uniformity. The light scattering response of SERS probes may also be modulated by the substrate used for SERS analysis. A typical SERS substrate such as quartz can be expensive. Polystyrene is a cheaper substrate option but can decrease the SERS response due to interfering Raman emission peaks and high background fluorescence. The goal of this research is to develop an optimized process for fabricating Raman-labeled nanoparticles for a SERS-based immunoassay on a polystyrene substrate.

Results

We have developed a method for fabricating SERS nanoparticle probes for use in a light scattering immunoassay on a polystyrene substrate. The light scattering profile of both spherical gold nanoparticle and gold nanorod SERS probes were characterized using Raman spectroscopy and optical absorbance spectroscopy. The effects of substrate interference and autofluorescence were reduced by selecting a Raman reporter with a strong light scattering response in a spectral region where interfering substrate emission peaks are minimized. Both spherical gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods SERS probes used in the immunoassay were detected at labeling concentrations in the low pM range. This analytical sensitivity falls within the typical dynamic range for direct labeling of cell-surface biomarkers using SERS probes.

Conclusion

SERS nanoparticle probes were fabricated to produce a strong light scattering signal despite substrate interference. The optical extinction and inelastic light scattering of these probes was detected by optical absorbance spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. This immunoassay demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing strongly enhanced Raman signals on polystyrene, which is an inexpensive yet non-ideal Raman substrate. The assay sensitivity, which is in the low pM range, suggests that these SERS probe particles could be used for Raman labeling of cell or tissue samples in a polystyrene tissue culture plate. With continued development, this approach could be used for direct labeling of multiple cell surface biomarkers on strongly interfering substrate platforms.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13036-015-0023-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Numerical simulation of x-ray luminescence optical tomography for small-animal imaging

X-ray luminescence optical tomography (XLOT) is an emerging hybrid imaging modality in which x-ray excitable particles (phosphor particles) emit optical photons when stimulated with a collimated x-ray beam. XLOT can potentially combine the high sensitivity of optical imaging with the high spatial resolution of x-ray imaging. For reconstruction of XLOT data, we compared two reconstruction algorithms, conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) and a new algorithm, x-ray luminescence optical tomography with excitation priors (XLOT-EP), in which photon propagation is modeled with the diffusion equation and the x-ray beam positions are used as reconstruction priors. Numerical simulations based on dose calculations were used to validate the proposed XLOT imaging system and the reconstruction algorithms. Simulation results showed nanoparticle concentrations reconstructed with XLOT-EP are much less dependent on scan depth than those obtained with FBP. Measurements at just two orthogonal projections are sufficient for XLOT-EP to reconstruct an XLOT image for simple source distributions. The heterogeneity of x-ray energy deposition is included in the XLOT-EP reconstruction and improves the reconstruction accuracy, suggesting that there is a need to calculate the x-ray energy distribution for experimental XLOT imaging.

Two-color SERS microscopy for protein co-localization in prostate tissue with primary antibody-protein A/G-gold nanocluster conjugates

SERS microscopy is a novel staining technique in immunohistochemistry, which is based on antibodies labeled with functionalized noble metal colloids called SERS labels or nanotags for optical detection. Conventional covalent bioconjugation of these SERS labels cannot prevent blocking of the antigen recognition sites of the antibody. We present a rational chemical design for SERS label-antibody conjugates which addresses this issue. Highly sensitive, silica-coated gold nanoparticle clusters as SERS labels are non-covalently conjugated to primary antibodies by using the chimeric protein A/G, which selectively recognizes the Fc part of antibodies and therefore prevents blocking of the antigen recognition sites. In proof-of-concept two-color imaging experiments for the co-localization of p63 and PSA on non-neoplastic prostate tissue FFPE specimens, we demonstrate the specificity and signal brightness of these rationally designed primary antibody-protein A/G-gold nanocluster conjugates.

Rapid immuno-SERS microscopy for tissue imaging with single-nanoparticle sensitivity

Immuno-SERS microscopy is a novel imaging technique in nano-biophotonics, which employs antibodies labeled with SERS-active nanoparticles in conjunction with Raman microscopy. Rapid data acquisition is of central importance for screening large areas of tissue specimens. Here, we first discuss the role of SERS labels with single-particle sensitivity in immuno-SERS microscopy, in particular with respect to false-negative results. In combined single-particle experiments (SERS microscopy/dark-field microscopy/HR-SEM), we then demonstrate that small glass-coated clusters (dimers and trimers) of gold nanospheres exhibit the desired single-particle SERS sensitivity, even at acquisition times as short as 30 msec per pixel, while monomers do not. The proof-of-concept for rapid immuno-SERS microscopy with 30 msec acquisition time per pixel for selective imaging of the p53 family member p63 in prostate tissue sections is demonstrated.

Protein analytical assays for diagnosing, monitoring, and choosing treatment for cancer patients

Cancer treatment is often hindered by inadequate methods for diagnosing the disease or insufficient predictive capacity regarding therapeutic efficacy. Targeted cancer treatments, including Bcr-Abl and EGFR kinase inhibitors, have increased survival for some cancer patients but are ineffective in other patients. In addition, many patients who initially respond to targeted inhibitor therapy develop resistance during the course of treatment. Molecular analysis of cancer cells has emerged as a means to tailor treatment to particular patients. While DNA analysis can provide important diagnostic information, protein analysis is particularly valuable because proteins are more direct mediators of normal and diseased cellular processes. In this review article, we discuss current and emerging protein assays for improving cancer treatment, including trends toward assay miniaturization and measurement of protein activity.

Multiplex optical sensing with surface-enhanced Raman scattering: a critical review

Multiplex analysis permits the detection of several analytical targets at the same time. This approach may permit to draw a rapid and accurate diagnostic about the health of an individual or an environment. Among the analytical techniques with potential for multiplexing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offer unique advantages such as ultrasensitive detection down low the deconvolution times, a unique signature containing all the vibrational information of the target molecules, and the possibility of performing the experiments even in very demanding environments such as natural or biological fluids. Here we review the late advances in multiplex SERS including the direct methods, those aided by the surface functionalization of the plasmonic nanoparticles and the use of SERS encoded particles.

Raman Labeled Nanoparticles: Characterization of Variability and Improved Method for Unmixing

Raman spectroscopy can differentiate the spectral fingerprints of many molecules, resulting in potentially high multiplexing capabilities of Raman-tagged nanoparticles. However, accurate quantitative unmixing of Raman spectra is challenging because of potential overlaps between Raman peaks from each molecule as well as slight variations in the location, height and width of the very narrow peaks. If not accounted for properly, even minor fluctuations in the spectra may produce significant error which will ultimately result in poor unmixing accuracy. The objective of our study was to develop and validate a mathematical model of the Raman spectra of nanoparticles to unmix the contributions from each nanoparticle allowing simultaneous quantitation of several nanoparticle concentrations during sample characterization. We developed and evaluated an algorithm for quantitative unmixing of the spectra, called Narrow Peak Spectral Algorithm (NPSA) . Using NPSA, we were able to successfully unmix Raman spectra from up to 7 Raman nanoparticles after correcting for the spectral variations of 30% in intensity and shifts in peak locations of up to 10 cm-1 which is equivalent to 50% of the full width at half maximum (FWHM). We compared the performance of NPSA to the conventional least squares analysis (LS), error in NPSA is approximately 50% lower than LS. The error in estimating the relative contributions of each nanoparticle using NPSA are in the range of 10-16% for equal ratios and 13-19% for unequal ratios for unmixing of 7 composite organic - inorganic nanoparticles (COINs) whereas the errors using the traditional least squares approach were in the range of 25-38% for equal ratios and 45-68% for unequal ratios. Here, we report for the first time, the quantitative unmixing of 7 nanoparticles with maximum RMS % error less than 20%.

Label-free serum ribonucleic acid analysis for colorectal cancer detection by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and multivariate analysis

Studies with circulating ribonucleic acid (RNA) not only provide new targets for cancer detection, but also open up the possibility of noninvasive gene expression profiling for cancer. In this paper, we developed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), platform for detection and differentiation of serum RNAs of colorectal cancer. A novel three-dimensional (3-D), Ag nanofilm formed by dry MgSO(4) aggregated silver nanoparticles, Ag NP, as the SERS-active substrate was presented to effectively enhance the RNA Raman signals. SERS measurements were performed on two groups of serum RNA samples. One group from patients, n=55 with pathologically diagnosed colorectal cancer and the other group from healthy controls, n=45. Tentative assignments of the Raman bands in the normalized SERS spectra demonstrated that there are differential expressions of cancer-related RNAs between the two groups. Linear discriminate analysis, based on principal component analysis, generated features can differentiate the colorectal cancer SERS spectra from normal SERS spectra with sensitivity of 89.1 percent and specificity of 95.6 percent. This exploratory study demonstrated great potential for developing serum RNA SERS analysis into a useful clinical tool for label-free, noninvasive screening and detection of colorectal cancers.

Immunoassay for LMP1 in nasopharyngeal tissue based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is closely associated with the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and can be used as a tumor marker in screening for the disease. Here we report a new methodology based on highly specific and sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology to detect LMP1 in nasopharyngeal tissue sections directly with no need of tedious procedures as with conventional immunohistochemistry methods.

METHODS

LMP1-functionalized 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA)-labeled Au/Ag core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared first and then applied for analyzing LMP1 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded nasopharyngeal tissue sections obtained from 34 cancer patients and 20 healthy controls. SERS spectra were acquired from a 25 × 25 spot square area on each tissue section and used to generate SERS images.

RESULTS

Data from SERS spectra and images show that this new SERS-based immunoassay detected LMP1 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded nasopharyngeal tissue sections with high sensitivity and specificity. The results from the new LMP1-SERS probe method are superior to those of conventional immunohistochemistry staining for LMP1, and in excellent agreement with those of in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER).

CONCLUSION

This new SERS technique has the potential to be developed into a new clinical tool for detection and differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma as well as for predicting metastasis and immune-targeted treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Quantitative ratiometric discrimination between noncancerous and cancerous prostate cells based on neuropilin-1 overexpression

A multiplexed, ratiometric method is described that can confidently distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous epithelial prostate cells in vitro. The technique is based on bright surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) biotags (SBTs) infused with unique Raman reporter molecules, and carrying cell-specific peptides. Two sets of SBTs were used. One targets the neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) receptors of cancer cells through the RPARPAR peptide. The other functions as a positive control (PC) and binds to both noncancerous and cancer cells through the HIV-derived TAT peptide. Point-by-point 2D Raman maps of the spatial distribution of the two tags were constructed with subcellular resolution from cells simultaneously incubated with the two sets of SBTs. Averaging the SERRS signal over a given cell yielded an NRP/PC ratio from which a robust quantitative measure of the overexpression of the NRP-1 by the cancer cell line was extracted. The use of a local, on-cell reference produces quantitative, statistically robust measures of overexpression independent of such sources of uncertainty as variations in the location of the focal plane, the local cell concentration, and turbidity.

Current trends in nanobiosensor technology

The development of tools and processes used to fabricate, measure, and image nanoscale objects has lead to a wide range of work devoted to producing sensors that interact with extremely small numbers (or an extremely small concentration) of analyte molecules. These advances are particularly exciting in the context of biosensing, where the demands for low concentration detection and high specificity are great. Nanoscale biosensors, or nanobiosensors, provide researchers with an unprecedented level of sensitivity, often to the single molecule level. The use of biomolecule-functionalized surfaces can dramatically boost the specificity of the detection system, but can also yield reproducibility problems and increased complexity. Several nanobiosensor architectures based on mechanical devices, optical resonators, functionalized nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanofibers have been demonstrated in the lab. As nanobiosensor technology becomes more refined and reliable, it is likely it will eventually make its way from the lab to the clinic, where future lab-on-a-chip devices incorporating an array of nanobiosensors could be used for rapid screening of a wide variety of analytes at low cost using small samples of patient material.

Current trends in nanobiosensor technology

The development of tools and processes used to fabricate, measure, and image nanoscale objects has lead to a wide range of work devoted to producing sensors that interact with extremely small numbers (or an extremely small concentration) of analyte molecules. These advances are particularly exciting in the context of biosensing, where the demands for low concentration detection and high specificity are great. Nanoscale biosensors, or nanobiosensors, provide researchers with an unprecedented level of sensitivity, often to the single molecule level. The use of biomolecule-functionalized surfaces can dramatically boost the specificity of the detection system, but can also yield reproducibility problems and increased complexity. Several nanobiosensor architectures based on mechanical devices, optical resonators, functionalized nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, and nanofibers have been demonstrated in the lab. As nanobiosensor technology becomes more refined and reliable, it is likely it will eventually make its way from the lab to the clinic, where future lab-on-a-chip devices incorporating an array of nanobiosensors could be used for rapid screening of a wide variety of analytes at low cost using small samples of patient material.

Imaging with Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy, based on the inelastic scattering of a photon, has been widely used as an analytical tool in many research fields. Recently, Raman spectroscopy has also been explored for biomedical applications (e.g. cancer diagnosis) because it can provide detailed information on the chemical composition of cells and tissues. For imaging applications, several variations of Raman spectroscopy have been developed to enhance its sensitivity. This review article will provide a brief summary of Raman spectroscopy-based imaging, which includes the use of coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS, primarily used for imaging the C-H bond in lipids), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS, for which a variety of nanoparticles can be used as contrast agents), and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs, with its intrinsic Raman signal). The superb multiplexing capability of SERS-based Raman imaging can be extremely powerful in future research where different agents can be attached to different Raman tags to enable the interrogation of multiple biological events simultaneously in living subjects. The primary limitations of Raman imaging in humans are those also faced by other optical techniques, in particular limited tissue penetration. Over the last several years, Raman spectroscopy imaging has advanced significantly and many critical proof-of-principle experiments have been successfully carried out. It is expected that imaging with Raman Spectroscopy will continue to be a dynamic research field over the next decade.

Bio-imaging, detection and analysis by using nanostructures as SERS substrates

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a phenomenon that occurs on nanoscale-roughed metallic surface. The magnitude of the Raman scattering signal can be greatly enhanced when the scatterer is placed in the very close vicinity of the surface, which enables this phenomenon to be a highly sensitive analytical technique. SERS inherits the general strongpoint of conventional Raman spectroscopy and overcomes the inherently small cross section problem of a Raman scattering. It is a sensitive and nondestructive spectroscopic method for biological samples, and can be exploited either for the delivery of molecular structural information or for the detection of trace levels of analytes. Therefore, SERS has long been regarded as a powerful tool in biomedical research. Metallic nanostructure plays a key role in all the biomedical applications of SERS because the enhanced Raman signal can only be obtained on the surface of a finely divided substrate. This review focuses on progress made in the use of SERS as an analytical technique in bio-imaging, analysis and detection. Recent progress in the fabrication of SERS active nanostructures is also highlighted.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) cytometry

Significant advances have been made in the preparation and applications of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active materials for biomolecular analysis. Bright signals, photostability, and narrow spectral features of SERS-active materials offer attractive advantages for cytometric analyses. However, SERS cytometry is still in an early stage of development, and advances in both instrumentation and reagents will be necessary to realize its full potential. In this chapter, we discuss the challenges of expanding the numbers of fluorescent labels that can be measured in cytometry, and introduce SERS tags with extremely narrow spectral peaks as an approach to make more efficient use of the optical spectrum and increase the number of parameters in cytometry.

Prospects of deep Raman spectroscopy for noninvasive detection of conjugated surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering nanoparticles buried within 25 mm of mammalian tissue

This letter discusses the potential of deep Raman spectroscopy, surface enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SESORS and its variants), for noninvasively detecting small, deeply buried lesions using surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) active nanoparticles. An experimental demonstration of this concept is performed in transmission Raman geometry. This method opens prospects for in vivo, noninvasive, specific detection of molecular changes associated with disease up to depths of several centimeters representing significant improvement over traditionally detected Raman signals by 2 orders of magnitude. The disease specific signals can be achieved using uniquely tagged nanoparticles conjugated to target molecules, e.g., antibodies for production of the SERRS signal. This provides the molecular specific signal which is many orders of magnitude greater than normal biological Raman signals and can be easily multiplexed. To date, there have been no studies demonstrating the viability of deep Raman spectroscopy coupled to surface enhanced techniques for detecting low concentrations of molecules of interest at depths of greater than 5.5 mm in tissue. Such a breakthrough would open a host of new applications in medical diagnoses. Here we propose to facilitate such capability by combining SERRS (as a probe for disease specific changes) with deep Raman spectroscopy techniques. This permits noninvasive measurement of Raman signatures from conjugated SERRS nanoparticles at clinically relevant concentrations through tissues of between 15 and 25 mm thick.

Optical signal comparison of single fluorescent molecules and Raman active gold nanostars

The relevant photophysical properties of single fluorescent molecules and single SERS active surface-coated gold nanostars tagged with the Raman reporter molecule 4-mercaptopyridine are compared for imaging purposes. Mean count rate distributions are built from the single molecule/single probe level. The individually observed variance and count rates of both systems are compared as well as the behavior over multiple image acquisitions.

Vibrational spectroscopy: a clinical tool for cancer diagnostics

Vibrational spectroscopy techniques have demonstrated potential to provide non-destructive, rapid, clinically relevant diagnostic information. Early detection is the most important factor in the prevention of cancer. Raman and infrared spectroscopy enable the biochemical signatures from biological tissues to be extracted and analysed. In conjunction with advanced chemometrics such measurements can contribute to the diagnostic assessment of biological material. This paper also illustrates the complementary advantage of using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy technologies together. Clinical requirements are increasingly met by technological developments which show promise to become a clinical reality. This review summarises recent advances in vibrational spectroscopy and their impact on the diagnosis of cancer.

Chemical analysis in vivo and in vitro by Raman spectroscopy--from single cells to humans

The gold standard for clinical diagnostics of tissues is immunofluorescence staining. Toxicity of many fluorescent dyes precludes their application in vivo. Raman spectroscopy, a chemically specific, label-free diagnostic technique, is rapidly gaining acceptance as a powerful alternative. It has the ability to probe the chemical composition of biological materials in a non-destructive and mostly non-perturbing manner. We review the most recent developments in Raman spectroscopy in the life sciences, detailing advances in technology that have improved the ability to screen for diseases. Its role in the monitoring of biological function and mapping the cellular chemical microenvironment will be discussed. Applications including endoscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and coherent Raman scattering (CRS) will be reviewed.

Spectral analysis of multiplex Raman probe signatures

Raman nanoparticle probes are an emerging new class of optical labels for interrogation of physiological and pathological processes in bioassays, cells, and tissues. Although their unique emission signatures are ideal for multiplexing, the full potential of these probes has not been realized because conventional analysis methods are inadequate. We report a novel spectral fitting method that exploits the entire spectral signature to quantitatively extract individual probe signals from multiplex spectra. We evaluate the method in a series of multiplex assays using unconjugated and antibody-conjugated composite organic-inorganic nanoparticles (COINs). Results show sensitive multiplex detection of small signals (<2% of total signal) and similar detection limits in corresponding 4-plex and singlet plate binding assays. In a triplex assay on formalin-fixed human prostate tissue, two antibody-conjugated COINs and a conventional fluorophore are used to image expression of prostate-specific antigen, cytokeratin-18, and DNA. The spectral analysis method effectively removes tissue autofluorescence and other unknown background, allowing accurate and reproducible imaging (area under ROC curve 0.89 +/- 0.03) at subcellular spatial resolution. In all assay systems, the error attributable to spectral analysis constitutes <or=2% of total signal. The spectral fitting method provides (1) quantification of signals from multiplex spectra with overlapping peaks, (2) robust spot-by-spot removal of unknown background, (3) the opportunity to quantitatively assess the analysis error, (4) elimination of operator bias, and (5) simple automation appropriate for high-throughput analysis. The simple implementation and universal applicability of this approach significantly expands the potential of Raman probes for quantitative in vivo and ex vivo multiplex analysis.