Raman spectroscopy in nanomedicine: current status and future perspective (original) (raw)
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Surface-enhanced Raman scattering: a new optical probe in molecular biophysics and biomedicine
Theoretical Chemistry Accounts, 2010
Sensitive and detailed molecular structural information plays an increasing role in molecular biophysics and molecular medicine. Therefore, vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman scattering, which provide high structural information content are of growing interest in biophysical and biomedical research. Raman spectroscopy can be revolutionized when the inelastic scattering process takes place in the very close vicinity of metal nanostructures. Under these conditions, strongly increased Raman signals can be obtained due to resonances between optical fields and the collective oscillations of the free electrons in the metal. This effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) allows us to push vibrational spectroscopy to new limits in detection sensitivity, lateral resolution, and molecular structural selectivity. This opens up exciting perspectives also in molecular biospectroscopy. This article highlights three directions where SERS can offer interesting new capabilities. This includes SERS as a technique for detecting and tracking a single molecule, a SERS-based nanosensor for probing the chemical composition and the pH value in a live cell, and the effect of socalled surface-enhanced Raman optical activity, which provides information on the chiral organization of molecules on surfaces.
Journal of the Chilean Chemical Society
The development of new biomaterials has gained increasing attention in the last decade. One of the most important aspects in the development of these new materials is to understand the chemical cues presents in the native niche. Among all the techniques currently available for measuring those interactions, Raman spectroscopy offers a unique and non-invasive tool for exploring the behavior of the components within a given biomaterial and their surrounding microenvironment. This technique exploits the unique molecular vibrational fingerprints for pinpointing those interactions. The vibrational response can be improved to the single molecule level, in the presence of metal nanoparticles (NPs) with plasmonic properties (silver, gold and copper) in the so-called Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS), which can be used for in-situ measurements. Another technique recently developed is the Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SHINERS), which overcomes signal contamination from chemical interactions between biomolecules and the metal surface; it does this by coating the metal surface with an inert layer of alumina or silica. In the present contribution, the role and the applications of Raman, SERS and related spectroscopic techniques in the study of biomolecules in biomaterials are reviewed and discussed.
Raman Spectroscopy and Related Techniques in Biomedicine
Sensors, 2010
In this review we describe label-free optical spectroscopy techniques which are able to non-invasively measure the (bio)chemistry in biological systems. Raman spectroscopy uses visible or near-infrared light to measure a spectrum of vibrational bonds in seconds. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopy and stimulated Raman loss (SRL) microscopy are orders of magnitude more efficient than Raman spectroscopy, and are able to acquire high quality chemically-specific images in seconds. We discuss the benefits and limitations of all techniques, with particular emphasis on applications in biomedicine-both in vivo (using fiber endoscopes) and in vitro (in optical microscopes).
Noncontact tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for nanomaterials and biomedical applications
Nanoscale advances, 2019
Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) has been established as one the most efficient analytical techniques for probing vibrational states with nanoscale resolution. While TERS may be a source of unique information about chemical structure and interactions, it has a limited use for materials with rough or sticky surfaces. Development of the TERS approach utilizing a non-contact scanning probe microscopy mode can significantly extend the number of applications. Here we demonstrate a proof of the concept and feasibility of a noncontact TERS approach and test it on various materials. Our experiments show that non-contact TERS can provide 10 nm spatial resolution and a Raman signal enhancement factor of 10 5 , making it very promising for chemical imaging of materials with high aspect ratio surface patterns and biomaterials.
Introductory Chapter: The Multiple Applications of Raman Spectroscopy
Raman Spectroscopy, 2018
This book gives a wide overview of the state-of-the-art applications of Raman spectroscopy in characterization of materials and biomaterials. The Raman signal is intrinsically smaller than other vibrational techniques; however, mainly through intensification processes, such as resonance Raman (RR) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), the Raman cross section can be strongly amplified. Thoroughly in these signal amplifications, the study of a diversity of chemical systems and the use of Raman technique for in situ and in vivo measurements is possible. The main goal of this book is to open up to an extended audience the possibilities of uses of Raman spectroscopy. In fact, this collective work will be beneficial to students, teachers, and researchers of many areas who are interested to expand their knowledge about Raman spectroscopy applied to nanotechnology, biotechnology, environmental science, inorganic chemistry, and health sciences
Raman spectroscopy in chemical bioanalysis
Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 2004
Advances in instrumentation are making Raman spectroscopy the tool of choice for an increasing number of (bio)chemical applications. Raman is an interesting option for several reasons, including the sensitivity to small structural changes, non-invasive sampling capability, minimal sample preparation, and high spatial resolution in the case of Raman microspectroscopy. Herein we discuss the most recent technical approaches employed, from the well-known surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy to non-linear Raman techniques such as coherent anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) and related techniques. Relevant applications of Raman spectroscopy in the fields of clinical pathology, in vivo and ex vivo imaging, classification and detection of microorganisms and chemical analysis in the past three years are also included. Abbreviations CARS coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering CCD charge-coupled device FSRS femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy FT Fourier transform RRS resonance Raman spectroscopy SERS surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy SHG second-harmonic generation SFG sum frequency generation THG third-harmonic generation
Raman Scattering-Based Biosensing: New Prospects and Opportunities
Biosensors, 2021
The growing interest in the development of new platforms for the application of Raman spectroscopy techniques in biosensor technologies is driven by the potential of these techniques in identifying chemical compounds, as well as structural and functional features of biomolecules. The effect of Raman scattering is a result of inelastic light scattering processes, which lead to the emission of scattered light with a different frequency associated with molecular vibrations of the identified molecule. Spontaneous Raman scattering is usually weak, resulting in complexities with the separation of weak inelastically scattered light and intense Rayleigh scattering. These limitations have led to the development of various techniques for enhancing Raman scattering, including resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy (coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and stimulated Raman spectroscopy). Furthermore, the discovery of the phenomenon of enhanced Raman scattering ne...
Raman spectroscopy: Techniques and applications in the life sciences
Raman spectroscopy is an increasingly popular technique in many areas including biology and medicine. It is based on Raman scattering, a phenomenon in which incident photons lose or gain energy via interactions with vibrating molecules in a sample. These energy shifts can be used to obtain information regarding molecular composition of the sample with very high accuracy. Applications of Raman spectroscopy in the life sciences have included quantification of biomolecules, hyperspectral molecular imaging of cells and tissue, medical diagnosis, and others. This review briefly presents the physical origin of Raman scattering explaining the key classical and quantum mechanical concepts. Variations of the Raman effect will also be considered, including resonance, coherent, and enhanced Raman scattering. We discuss the molecular origins of prominent bands often found in the Raman spectra of biological samples. Finally, we examine several variations of Raman spectroscopy techniques in practice, looking at their applications, strengths, and challenges. This review is intended to be a starting resource for scientists new to Raman spectroscopy, providing theoretical background and practical examples as the foundation for further study and exploration.