Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026

11:44
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Biomolecules Using EBL Fabricated Nanostructured Substrates
Published on: March 20, 2015
Sensitive carbohydrate detection using surface enhanced Raman tagging.
Karthikeshwar Vangala1, Michael Yanney, Cheng-Te Hsiao
1Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|November 19, 2010
Summary
Researchers developed a novel Rhodamine-based tag for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect carbohydrates. This advancement offers sensitive and versatile glycomic analysis with potential applications in biological and biomedical research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Glycosylation is a crucial post-translational modification impacting protein function.
- Accurate glycomic analysis is vital for understanding biological processes and disease.
- Existing methods for carbohydrate detection face limitations in sensitivity and scope.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel tagging strategy for sensitive carbohydrate detection.
- To enable multiplexed and quantitative glycomic analysis.
- To integrate SERS with fluorescence and mass spectrometry for comprehensive analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Rhodamine B derivative as a SERS tag (RT).
- Conjugation of the RT tag to model carbohydrates via reductive amination.
- Detection and quantification using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS).
- Ratiometric SERS quantification using isotope-substituted internal standards.
- Complementary detection using fluorescence and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).
Main Results:
- Achieved SERS detection limits of ~1 nM for RT-carbohydrate conjugates.
- Demonstrated a dynamic SERS range of 4 orders of magnitude (1 nM to 5 µM).
- Reported fluorescence sensitivity of ~3 nM and ESI-MS sensitivity of ~1 fmol.
- Successfully performed ratiometric SERS quantification of carbohydrates.
Conclusions:
- The Rhodamine tagging strategy provides a highly sensitive and versatile platform for glycomic analysis.
- The integrated SERS, fluorescence, and MS approach allows for sensitive quantification and definitive identification of carbohydrates.
- This method holds significant potential for advancing practical glycomic research and diagnostics.

