Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers
Sensitive detection of biomarkers is very critical in the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of diseases. Recent efforts have suggested that bioassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a signal read-out strategy possess certain unique beneficial features in terms of sensitivity and low l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/10/1570 |
| _version_ | 1797471349351907328 |
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| author | Jamison Duckworth Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev |
| author_facet | Jamison Duckworth Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev |
| author_sort | Jamison Duckworth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sensitive detection of biomarkers is very critical in the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of diseases. Recent efforts have suggested that bioassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a signal read-out strategy possess certain unique beneficial features in terms of sensitivity and low limits of detection which set this method apart from its counterparts such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, and radiolabeling. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has also emerged as an ideal choice for the development of multiplexed bioassays. Such promising features have prompted the need for the development of SERS-based tools suitable for point-of-care applications. These tools must be easy to use, portable, and automated for the screening of many samples in clinical settings if diagnostic applications are considered. The availability of such tools will result in faster and more reliable detection of disease biomarkers, improving the accessibility of point-of-care diagnostics. In this paper, we describe a modular Raman reader instrument designed to create such a portable device suitable for screening a large number of samples with minimal operator assistance. The device’s hardware is mostly built with commercially available components using our unique design. Dedicated software was created to automatically run sample screening and analyze the data measured. The mRR is an imaging system specifically created to automate measurements, eliminating human bias while enhancing the rate of data collection and analysis ~2000 times. This paper presents both the design and capabilities of the custom-built modular Raman reader system (mRR) capable of automated and fast measurements of sandwich immunoassay samples on gold substrates using modified gold nanoparticles as Raman tags. The limit of detection (LOD) of the tested MUC4-specific iSERS assay was measured to be 0.41 µg/mL. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:47:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-568a350060f1434ba090def88812ab91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:47:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-568a350060f1434ba090def88812ab912023-11-24T01:20:47ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2022-09-011310157010.3390/mi13101570Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of BiomarkersJamison Duckworth0Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev1Department of Physics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USADepartment of Physics, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USASensitive detection of biomarkers is very critical in the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of diseases. Recent efforts have suggested that bioassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a signal read-out strategy possess certain unique beneficial features in terms of sensitivity and low limits of detection which set this method apart from its counterparts such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, and radiolabeling. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has also emerged as an ideal choice for the development of multiplexed bioassays. Such promising features have prompted the need for the development of SERS-based tools suitable for point-of-care applications. These tools must be easy to use, portable, and automated for the screening of many samples in clinical settings if diagnostic applications are considered. The availability of such tools will result in faster and more reliable detection of disease biomarkers, improving the accessibility of point-of-care diagnostics. In this paper, we describe a modular Raman reader instrument designed to create such a portable device suitable for screening a large number of samples with minimal operator assistance. The device’s hardware is mostly built with commercially available components using our unique design. Dedicated software was created to automatically run sample screening and analyze the data measured. The mRR is an imaging system specifically created to automate measurements, eliminating human bias while enhancing the rate of data collection and analysis ~2000 times. This paper presents both the design and capabilities of the custom-built modular Raman reader system (mRR) capable of automated and fast measurements of sandwich immunoassay samples on gold substrates using modified gold nanoparticles as Raman tags. The limit of detection (LOD) of the tested MUC4-specific iSERS assay was measured to be 0.41 µg/mL.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/10/1570Raman scatteringbiomarker detectionsurface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)automationdisease diagnosticsiSERS assay |
| spellingShingle | Jamison Duckworth Alexey V. Krasnoslobodtsev Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers Micromachines Raman scattering biomarker detection surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) automation disease diagnostics iSERS assay |
| title | Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers |
| title_full | Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers |
| title_fullStr | Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers |
| title_short | Modular Micro Raman Reader Instrument for Fast SERS-Based Detection of Biomarkers |
| title_sort | modular micro raman reader instrument for fast sers based detection of biomarkers |
| topic | Raman scattering biomarker detection surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) automation disease diagnostics iSERS assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/10/1570 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamisonduckworth modularmicroramanreaderinstrumentforfastsersbaseddetectionofbiomarkers AT alexeyvkrasnoslobodtsev modularmicroramanreaderinstrumentforfastsersbaseddetectionofbiomarkers |