Quantitative online detection of low-concentrated drugs via a SERS microfluidic system

Herein, quantitative online monitoring of concentration fluctuations of different interesting drugs, namely, the phenothiazine promethazine as well as the anti-cancer agent mitoxantrone via surface enhanced Raman scattering assay based on a microfluidic device is demonstrated. With the applied liquid/liquid two-phase-segmented flow system we succeed in preventing the adhesion of nanoparticle aggregates to the channel walls which is necessary for a quantitative analysis. Even after repeated cycles no carry-over due to sedimentation of colloid particles is observed. To the best of our knowledge these are the first measurements applying a combination of a microfluidic device with SERS detection for quantitative online monitoring of fluctuations in drug concentrations over hours without use of aggressive chemicals for rinsing the chip surfaces prior to each measurement.