Enzymatically activated reduction-caged SERS reporters for versatile bioassays.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) offers high sensitivity for molecular detection.
• Activation of caged Raman reporters is crucial for developing SERS-based bioassays.
• Peroxidases are enzymes that can be utilized for triggering chemical reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile strategy for activating reduction caged Raman reporters using peroxidases for SERS.
• To create versatile bioassays for detecting bioactive small molecules.
• To establish an immunoassay for C-reactive protein (CRP) as a cardiovascular disease biomarker.

Main Methods:

• Selection of appropriate caged Raman reporters.
• Enzymatic activation of reporters using peroxidases.
• Development of SERS-based bioassays for small molecules.
• Development of a SERS-based immunoassay for CRP detection.

Main Results:

• A facile strategy for activating caged Raman reporters with peroxidases was successfully established.
• Versatile bioassays for detecting bioactive small molecules were developed using the SERS approach.
• A sensitive immunoassay for C-reactive protein (CRP) was demonstrated, showing potential for disease biomarker detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed strategy provides a robust platform for SERS-based bioanalysis.
• This method enables sensitive and specific detection of analytes, including disease biomarkers.
• The approach holds promise for advancing diagnostic tools in clinical applications.