Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Sensing In Vitro: Facile and Label-Free Detection of Apoptotic Cells at the Single-Cell Level

• Published in: Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2013-03, Vol.85 (5), p.2809-2816
• Main Authors: Jiang, Xiangxu, Jiang, Ziyun, Xu, Tingting, Su, Shao, Zhong, Yiling, Peng, Fei, Su, Yuanyuan, He, Yao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Separation - methods; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Molecular biology; Molecular Imaging - methods; Scattering; Silicon - chemistry; Silicon wafers; Silver - chemistry; Single-Cell Analysis - methods; Spectrum Analysis, Raman - methods; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 0003-2700; 1520-6882
• DOI: 10.1021/ac303337b

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is well recognized as a powerful analytical tool, enabling ultrahigh sensitive detection of analytes at low concentrations, even down to single-molecule level. Of particular note, in comparison to sufficient investigations on SERS-based detection of biomolecules (e.g., DNA and protein), there has been relatively scanty information regarding in vitro and in vivo detection. In this Article, we demonstrate a kind of SERS-active substrate, i.e., AgNPs-decorated silicon wafer (AgNPs@Si), as a high-performance in vitro sensing platform for single-cell detection of apoptotic cells. The AgNPs@Si yields highly reproducible SERS signals with an enhancement factor of ∼107. Remarkably, cellular experiments show that facile, noninvasive, label-free, and sensitive detection of apoptotic cells is readily realized using the high-performance SERS-active platform. Three kinds of apoptotic cells treated with apoptosis inducer are facilely and sensitively detected at the single-cell level, suggesting the exciting potential of AgNPs@Si for SERS-based in vitro analysis and detection.