Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Microorganisms

摘要

A novel metal (Au or Ag) nanoparticle covered substrate has been developed for obtaining surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of vegetative bacterial cells. Species specific vibrational fingerprints are reproducibly observed. These bacterial SERS spectra are metal dependent, exhibit greater species specificity and reduced spectral congestion than nonSERS spectra and show fluorescence quenching. The development of this methodology for the identification and detection of vegetative bacterial cells in human blood is described.