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Published on: November 17, 2023
Chitosan-coated anisotropic silver nanoparticles as a SERS substrate for single-molecule detection
Monica Potara1, Monica Baia, Cosmin Farcau
1Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microscopy Center, Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, and Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, Treboniu Laurian Street 42, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
This study introduces a novel, biocompatible Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrate using silver nanoparticles in chitosan. This new SERS substrate achieves single-molecule detection sensitivity for biological molecules.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is crucial for detecting low-concentration molecules.
- Optimizing SERS substrates for particle size, shape, and distribution is key to enhancing sensitivity.
- Biocompatible materials are sought after for advanced SERS applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate a novel, biocompatible SERS substrate.
- To investigate the SERS efficiency of anisotropic silver nanoparticles embedded in chitosan.
- To achieve single-molecule detection limits for biological analytes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a chitosan-based SERS substrate with embedded anisotropic silver nanoparticles.
- Assessment of SERS efficiency using Raman imaging and spectroscopy.
- Characterization using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and SERS imaging.
Main Results:
- The chitosan matrix facilitates the formation of silver nanoparticle clusters with enhancing junctions and gaps.
- High SERS enhancement factors were observed for adenine, a biological molecule.
- The substrate demonstrated sensitivity for nonresonant analytes at the single-molecule level.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan-coated anisotropic silver nanoparticle clusters form effective plasmonic SERS substrates.
- The developed substrate offers high sensitivity for detecting biological molecules.
- This work paves the way for advanced SERS applications in biological sensing.
