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Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting
Published on: March 25, 2019
Molecular conformation changes along the malignancy revealed by optical nanosensors
Simona Cinta Pinzaru1, Alexandra Falamas, Cristina Adriana Dehelean
1Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. simona.cinta@phys.ubbcluj.ro
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|January 11, 2013
Summary
This study introduces a novel method using functionalized nanoparticles and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for early melanoma detection. This technique enables molecular-level tracking of malignancy in skin tissue, paving the way for improved cancer diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Early detection of melanoma is crucial for effective treatment.
- Current diagnostic methods may lack the sensitivity for early molecular changes.
- Nanoparticle-based spectroscopic techniques offer potential for enhanced molecular characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach for tracking molecular changes in early-stage melanoma.
- To investigate the use of functionalized silver and gold nanoparticles with Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) for melanoma tissue analysis.
- To establish Raman and SERS molecular characterization of melanoma tissue as a novel diagnostic approach.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ex vivo mouse skin tissue with induced melanoma.
- Employed both labeled and unlabeled silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles.
- Applied Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopy with visible or NIR laser excitation.
- Used cresyl violet molecular species chemisorbed on nanoparticles as optical nanosensors.
- Correlated vibrational data with immunohistochemical analysis.
Main Results:
- Achieved molecular-level tracking of melanoma tissue using SERS with Ag and Au nanoparticles.
- Demonstrated sensitive tissue tagging and local molecular characterization using optical nanosensors.
- Obtained SERS spectra providing information on native biological molecules in the tissue.
- Identified systematic differences in tissue response between labeled and unlabeled nanoparticles, indicating specific tagging of proteins and nucleic acids.
- Presented vibrational data alongside immunohistochemical findings.
Conclusions:
- The study presents a novel application of plasmonic nanoparticles and SERS for early cancer diagnostics.
- Functionalized nanoparticles and SERS can effectively track molecular alterations in early-stage malignancy.
- The development of an appropriate spectral database holds promise for future clinical applications in melanoma diagnosis.
