Applications of near infrared and surface enhanced Raman scattering techniques in tumor imaging: A short review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Imaging
• Biomedical Diagnostics

Background:

• Clinical oncology relies heavily on advanced imaging technologies for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Early detection of physiological changes in tumors is crucial for effective real-time curative treatment.
• Existing imaging methods require continuous innovation to improve cancer cell identification capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging for enhanced cancer cell detection.
• To provide insights into the capabilities of NIRF and SERS for early cancer diagnosis.
• To discuss the design of cost-effective imaging agents for improved molecular imaging.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of the fundamental principles, instrumentation, and working mechanisms of NIRF and SERS imaging.
• Analysis of common NIRF imaging agents and SERS tags used in biomedical research.
• Evaluation of the analytical advantages and disadvantages of both NIRF and SERS techniques.

Main Results:

• NIRF and SERS imaging offer distinct advantages for visualizing biological processes at the molecular level.
• Specific imaging agents and tags are critical for the sensitivity and specificity of these techniques.
• Both methods present challenges that can be addressed through the development of novel, cost-effective probes.

Conclusions:

• NIRF and SERS imaging hold significant promise for advancing early cancer detection and diagnosis.
• Further research into novel fluorophores and SERS tags is essential to overcome current limitations.
• This review aims to guide researchers in developing improved molecular imaging tools for oncology.