Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device

In this study, 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA)-Au nanorods conjugated with a GPR120 antibody were developed as a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe, and were applied to detect the interaction of fatty acids (FA) and their cognate receptor, GPR120, on the surface of human...

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Main Authors: Han Zhang, Wei Zhang, Lifu Xiao, Yan Liu, Timothy A. Gilbertson, Anhong Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/7/1663
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author Han Zhang
Wei Zhang
Lifu Xiao
Yan Liu
Timothy A. Gilbertson
Anhong Zhou
author_facet Han Zhang
Wei Zhang
Lifu Xiao
Yan Liu
Timothy A. Gilbertson
Anhong Zhou
author_sort Han Zhang
collection DOAJ
description In this study, 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA)-Au nanorods conjugated with a GPR120 antibody were developed as a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe, and were applied to detect the interaction of fatty acids (FA) and their cognate receptor, GPR120, on the surface of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293-GPRR120) cultured in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device. Importantly, the two dominant characteristic SERS peaks of the Raman reporter molecule MBA, 1078 cm<sup>&#8722;1</sup> and 1581 cm<sup>&#8722;1</sup>, do not overlap with the main Raman peaks from the PDMS substrate when the appropriate spectral scanning range is selected, which effectively avoided the interference from the PDMS background signals. The proposed microfluidic device consisted of two parts, that is, the concentration gradient generator (CGG) and the cell culture well array. The CGG part was fabricated to deliver five concentrations of FA simultaneously. A high aspect ratio well structure was designed to address the problem of HEK cells vulnerable to shear flow. The results showed a positive correlation between the SERS peak intensity and the FA concentrations. This work, for the first time, achieved the simultaneous monitoring of the Raman spectra of cells and the responses of the receptor in the cells upon the addition of fatty acid. The development of this method also provides a platform for the monitoring of cell membrane receptors on single-cell analysis using SERS in a PDMS-based microfluidic device.
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spelling doaj.art-45fcad1df653483182eb56075f9e6c722022-12-22T02:56:56ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202019-04-01197166310.3390/s19071663s19071663Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic DeviceHan Zhang0Wei Zhang1Lifu Xiao2Yan Liu3Timothy A. Gilbertson4Anhong Zhou5Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4105, USADepartment of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4105, USADepartment of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4105, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827-7408, USADepartment of Internal Medicine, University Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827-7408, USADepartment of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4105, USAIn this study, 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA)-Au nanorods conjugated with a GPR120 antibody were developed as a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probe, and were applied to detect the interaction of fatty acids (FA) and their cognate receptor, GPR120, on the surface of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293-GPRR120) cultured in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic device. Importantly, the two dominant characteristic SERS peaks of the Raman reporter molecule MBA, 1078 cm<sup>&#8722;1</sup> and 1581 cm<sup>&#8722;1</sup>, do not overlap with the main Raman peaks from the PDMS substrate when the appropriate spectral scanning range is selected, which effectively avoided the interference from the PDMS background signals. The proposed microfluidic device consisted of two parts, that is, the concentration gradient generator (CGG) and the cell culture well array. The CGG part was fabricated to deliver five concentrations of FA simultaneously. A high aspect ratio well structure was designed to address the problem of HEK cells vulnerable to shear flow. The results showed a positive correlation between the SERS peak intensity and the FA concentrations. This work, for the first time, achieved the simultaneous monitoring of the Raman spectra of cells and the responses of the receptor in the cells upon the addition of fatty acid. The development of this method also provides a platform for the monitoring of cell membrane receptors on single-cell analysis using SERS in a PDMS-based microfluidic device.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/7/1663RamanSERSmicrofluidicsfatty acidGPR1204-mercaptobenzoic acid
spellingShingle Han Zhang
Wei Zhang
Lifu Xiao
Yan Liu
Timothy A. Gilbertson
Anhong Zhou
Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
Sensors
Raman
SERS
microfluidics
fatty acid
GPR120
4-mercaptobenzoic acid
title Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
title_full Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
title_fullStr Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
title_full_unstemmed Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
title_short Use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Probes to Detect Fatty Acid Receptor Activity in a Microfluidic Device
title_sort use of surface enhanced raman scattering sers probes to detect fatty acid receptor activity in a microfluidic device
topic Raman
SERS
microfluidics
fatty acid
GPR120
4-mercaptobenzoic acid
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/19/7/1663
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