Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Detection of Cancer Biomarkers in Intact Cellular Specimens

摘要

We have developed a system for the direct spectroscopic identification of protein biomarkers in biological samples. By conjugating Raman dyes and biomolecular targeting agents to gold nanoparticles, we have produced highly selective optically encoded probes. The nanostructures are grown within a cellular sample to generate a surface that is highly active for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Both in vitro characterizations of SERS detection as well as the sensitive and specific detection of cancer biomarkers in cultured cancer cells have been demonstrated.