Plasmonic substrates for biochemical applications of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Biomolecule detection in body fluids is vital for medical diagnostics.
• Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is a highly sensitive analytical technique.
• The performance of SERS is critically dependent on the properties of the nanomaterials used as substrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in nanomaterial preparation for SERS-based biomolecule detection.
• To categorize and discuss different types of nanomaterials used in SERS.
• To present examples of SERS biochemical analyses utilizing these nanomaterials.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on nanomaterial synthesis for SERS.
• Classification of nanomaterials into four main groups based on composition and structure.
• Discussion of SERS applications in biomolecule detection.

Main Results:

• Four categories of nanomaterials are presented: plasmonic metal nanoparticles, nanoparticle deposits on substrates, nanocomposites, and nanostructured metals with plasmonic films.
• These nanomaterials enable high SERS enhancement factors and low spectral backgrounds.
• Various biomolecules can be detected with high sensitivity using these tailored nanomaterials.

Conclusions:

• The development of advanced nanomaterials is key to unlocking the full potential of SERS in biochemical analysis.
• This review provides a comprehensive overview of current nanomaterials for SERS, aiding researchers in this field.
• Continued innovation in nanomaterial design will further enhance SERS sensitivity and applicability in diagnostics.