Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Surface-enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Nanoprobe Ratiometry for Detecting Microscopic Ovarian Cancer via Folate Receptor Targeting
Published on: March 25, 2019
Optical biosensor based on SERS with signal calibration function for quantitative detection of carcinoembryonic
Tingyin Wang1,2, Youzhi Zhu1,2, Shuyun Weng3
1Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine, Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
A new surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform detects carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a cancer biomarker, with high accuracy. This SERS sensor shows promise for distinguishing cancer patients from healthy individuals in blood samples.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Monitoring cancer biomarkers like carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is crucial for cancer diagnosis and evaluation.
- Existing methods for biomarker detection face challenges in sensitivity and specificity in complex biological samples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel sandwich-type surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing platform for sensitive and accurate detection of CEA.
- To enhance the SERS signal through a unique platform design for improved biomarker quantification.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a SERS platform using a gold nanoparticle monolayer modified with CEA antibodies and aptamer-functionalized probes.
- Integration of two gold layers to create "hot spots" and amplify Raman signals.
- Utilizing the intensity ratio of Raman probes and silicon wafer's second-order peak for dynamic signal calibration.
Main Results:
- Achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.258 ng/mL for CEA.
- Demonstrated 100% accuracy in distinguishing cancer patients from healthy individuals based on blood CEA concentrations.
- The platform effectively enhanced Raman probe signals through "hot spots" and dynamic calibration.
Conclusions:
- The developed sandwich-type SERS platform offers a highly sensitive and accurate method for CEA detection.
- This technology shows significant potential as an alternative tool for clinical cancer biomarker detection.
- The platform's ability to accurately differentiate cancer patients highlights its clinical applicability.
