Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2025
Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Biomolecules Using EBL Fabricated Nanostructured Substrates
Published on: March 20, 2015
Constructing Ultra-Strong SERS Tags in the Cellular Raman-Silent Region by Orthogonal Array Testing Strategy
Liang Zhang1,2, Lufeng Zhang3, Chundi Wei1
1Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China.
Researchers developed novel core (Au)-shell (N-doped graphene) structure (Au@NGs) surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) tags. These tags offer ultrastrong, stable signals for rapid, high-resolution bioimaging, overcoming previous limitations.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Spectroscopy
- Bioimaging
Background:
- Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) tags offer unique spectral properties for bioimaging.
- Current SERS imaging is limited by weak signals, biomolecular interference, and long acquisition times.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel SERS tag with an ultrastrong and stable Raman signal for enhanced bioimaging.
- To optimize the synthesis of these SERS tags using an efficient experimental strategy.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized core (Au)-shell (N-doped graphene) structure (Au@NGs) SERS tags via base-promoted oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids.
- Employed an orthogonal array testing strategy to optimize synthesis factors, reducing experiments from >100,000 to 56.
- Utilized theoretical calculations to confirm deep charge transfer and analyze enhancement mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Achieved ultrastrong and stable Raman signals (2180 cm-1) in the cellular Raman-silent region.
- Demonstrated detection sensitivity at the single-nanoparticle level.
- Obtained high-speed (within 10 s) and high-resolution (4453 pixels) cellular imaging using global Raman imaging.
Conclusions:
- The Au@NGs tags exhibit combined electromagnetic and chemical enhancement, leading to ultrastrong signals.
- The developed tags enable rapid, high-resolution bioimaging, addressing key limitations of current SERS techniques.
- This advancement holds significant promise for high-speed Raman imaging applications.
