Nanoscale Chemical Analysis of Cell Membrane Constituents Using Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

摘要

The biological membrane plays an important role in numerous cellular processes and is linked to various diseases. Many of its biological functions have been shown to depend on local environments with specific compositions.' Self-assembled nanoscale compartments enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol and proteins called "lipid rafts" are believed to be a locus for biochemical reactions taking place on the cell membrane.2 Investigation of such domains with nanometer resolution is still a very challenging task, especially when it is done in their natural environment.