Sers-based methodology for nanomolar methotrexate concentration detection for clinics

The paper proposes a new rapid and reliable method for the detection of methotrexate (MTX) in human blood serum using truncated triangular silver nanoparticles (AgNP) deposited on quartz glass. The article describes the application of the SERS method and the synthesized surfaces for the detection of pure MTX, MTX molecules and its metabolites in patient serum. Using this approach, it was possible to detect methotrexate in controls up to 10^-9 M concentration and in human plasma samples at clinical concentration up to 10^-6 M. The developed methodology can be a fast and cheap alternative to traditional methods in clinics, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).