Background-Free SERS Nanosensor for Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Detection Based on Prussian Blue-Coated Gold Nanobipyramids

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2024-03, Vol.16 (12), p.14467-14473
• Main Authors: Chen, Jiaming, Cheng, Lingjun, Yang, Yuanyuan, Liu, Yating, Su, Canping, He, Yinghao, You, Mingming, Lin, Zhenyu, Hong, Guolin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and Medical Applications of Materials and Interfaces
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17385

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has great potential in biological analysis due to its specificity, sensitivity, and non-invasive nature. However, effectively extracting Raman information and avoiding spectral overlapping from biological background interference remain major challenges. In this study, we developed a background-free SERS nanosensor consisting of gold nanobipyramids (Au NBPs) core-Prussian blue (PB) shell (Au NBPs@PB), for endogenous H2S detection. The PB shell degraded quickly upon contact with endogenous H2S, generating a unique Raman signal response in the Raman silent region (1800–2800 cm–1). By taking advantage of the high SERS-activity of Au NBPs and H2S-triggered spectral changes of PB, these SERS nanosensors effectively minimize potential biological interferences. The nanosensor exhibits a detection range of 2.0 μM to 250 μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.34 μM, with good reproducibility and minimal interference. We successfully applied this background-free SERS platform to monitor endogenous H2S concentrations in human serum samples with satisfied results.