Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Biomedical Applications: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Spectroscopy
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has become a critical biomedical tool due to its high sensitivity and molecular specificity.
• 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of SERS discovery, highlighting its significant evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements and challenges in SERS for biomedical applications.
• To discuss the potential of SERS in diagnostics, single-cell analysis, and in vivo imaging.

Main Methods:

• Review of key developments in SERS substrates (colloidal, solid, hydrogel architectures).
• Exploration of innovations in SERS nanotags (interior gaps, NIR-II responsive, biomimetic coatings).
• Discussion of emerging technologies (optical tweezers, plasmonic nanopores, wearable sensors) and spectral analysis (deep learning).

Main Results:

• Highlighting progress in SERS substrates with improved surface chemistry and hotspot design.
• Introducing novel SERS nanotags with enhanced functionalities for biological detection.
• Demonstrating expanded SERS capabilities for single-cell/molecule analysis and improved data quantification.

Conclusions:

• SERS shows significant potential in nucleic acid detection, protein/metabolite analysis, and single-cell monitoring.
• Emerging applications include liquid biopsy, metabolic phenotyping, and extracellular vesicle diagnostics.
• Clinical translation requires addressing challenges in in vivo sensing and commercialization.