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Plasmonic nanocone arrays for rapid and detailed cell lysate surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis
L P Hackett1, L L Goddard, G L Liu
1Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. plucins2@illinois.edu loganliu@illinois.edu.
The Analyst
|October 26, 2017
Summary
We developed a plasmonic nanocone array for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) enabling sensitive cell analysis. This SERS substrate provides uniform enhancement for quantitative biosensing and detecting cellular damage and specific molecules.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) offers high sensitivity for molecular detection.
- Developing uniform SERS substrates is crucial for quantitative and reproducible biosensing applications.
- Cellular analysis requires sensitive and specific detection methods for biological molecules and damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a plasmonic nanocone array SERS substrate with uniform enhancement for cell analysis.
- To demonstrate the substrate's capability for qualitative and quantitative analysis of cells and cell lysates.
- To validate the SERS substrate as a cell-based biosensor for detecting UV-induced damage and specific biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of plasmonic nanocone arrays.
- Characterization of the SERS substrate's enhancement factor and uniformity.
- Application of SERS for Raman measurements and mapping of HeLa cells and cell lysates.
- Detection of UV-induced cellular damage and methylated guanine in cell lysate samples.
Main Results:
- Achieved a uniform enhancement factor on the micron scale across the SERS substrate.
- Demonstrated SERS capability for qualitative and quantitative analysis of HeLa cells and cell lysates.
- Successfully identified UV-induced cellular damage.
- Detected nanomolar concentrations of methylated guanine spiked in cell lysate samples.
Conclusions:
- The developed plasmonic nanocone array SERS substrate is suitable for cell-based biosensing.
- Uniform enhancement and high sensitivity enable quantitative analysis of cellular conditions and biomarkers.
- This SERS approach provides a powerful tool for studying cellular damage and detecting specific molecules in biological samples.
