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Biosensors
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Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications
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Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 9448

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hrvoje Gebavi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory for Molecular Physics and Synthesis of New Materials, Division of Materials Physics, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: SERS solid substrates fabrication; SERS applications; low-pressure chemical vapor deposition; nanomaterials; Si nanotrees
Prof. Dr. Yuling Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: chromatographic analysis; surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy; development of functional separation media, food and drug analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The main features of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are ultra-high sensitivity, molecular specificity, short measuring time, low cost and wide range applications. In the last few decades, the development of high-quality and affordable SERS substrates has been accompanied by an increase in the number of applications and a similar growth trend is expected until 2030 and beyond. SERS currently finds the largest number of applications in medical research and pharmacy. However, areas of application for which accelerated development is expected are food safety and environmental protection.

This Special Issue aims to provide an overview of research that includes SERS analysis of biomolecules examined in the aforementioned research areas and wider. Biomolecules can be investigated on standard or innovative SERS substrates following direct or indirect approach methods. Papers including a portable Raman spectrometer system for accurate on-site diagnostics of bio-analytes are encouraged.

The topics of the Special Issue "Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications" include, but are not limited to:

  1. Novel SERS substrates for biosensing applications;
  2. SERS analysis of environmental hazards;
  3. Food safety: SERS characterization of food and drink pathogens;
  4. SERS novelties in bio-medical applications;
  5. Advanced portable biosensors.

Dr. Hrvoje Gebavi
Prof. Dr. Yuling Hu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biosensors is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • SERS substrate development
  • SERS for biosensing applications
  • food contaminant detection
  • environmental pollution control
  • machine learning (SERS)
  • SERS sensors
  • quantitative SERS methods
  • biohazardous molecules
  • forensic substances

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3539 KiB  
Article
First Vibrational Fingerprint of Parietaria judaica Protein via Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
by Dario Morganti, Valeria Longo, Antonio Alessio Leonardi, Alessia Irrera, Paolo Colombo and Barbara Fazio
Biosensors 2025, 15(3), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15030182 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 398
Abstract
Accurate identification and characterization of allergenic proteins at the molecular level are essential for pinpointing the specific protein structures responsible for allergic reactions, thus advancing the development of precise diagnostic tests. Significant efforts have been focused on novel experimental techniques aimed at deepening [...] Read more.
Accurate identification and characterization of allergenic proteins at the molecular level are essential for pinpointing the specific protein structures responsible for allergic reactions, thus advancing the development of precise diagnostic tests. Significant efforts have been focused on novel experimental techniques aimed at deepening the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of these reactions. In this work, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, the unique Raman fingerprint of three Parietaria judaica (Par j) allergenic proteins. These proteins are typically present in pollen and are known to trigger severe respiratory diseases. In our research, we further exploited the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect from an Ag dendrite substrate. This approach provided better discrimination and a comprehensive analysis of the proteins Par j 1, 2, and 4 in hydration conditions, enabling rapid differentiation between them through a spectroscopic study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications)
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13 pages, 5460 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Plasmonic Coupling in Gold Nanosphere Oligomers: Mechanically Tuned Red and Blue Shifts for SERS/SEF
by István Tóth and Cosmin Farcău
Biosensors 2025, 15(3), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15030181 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 438
Abstract
Controlling the surface plasmon resonances of metal nanostructures is crucial for advancing numerous high-sensitivity optical (bio)sensing applications. Furthermore, dynamically adjusting these resonances enables real-time tuning of the spectrum of enhanced electromagnetic fields in the near field, thereby regulating the optical interactions between molecules [...] Read more.
Controlling the surface plasmon resonances of metal nanostructures is crucial for advancing numerous high-sensitivity optical (bio)sensing applications. Furthermore, dynamically adjusting these resonances enables real-time tuning of the spectrum of enhanced electromagnetic fields in the near field, thereby regulating the optical interactions between molecules and the metal surface. In this study, we investigate the plasmonic behavior of linear oligomers composed of gold nanospheres using finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic simulations. The extinction spectra of linear arrangements such as dimers, trimers, and quadrumers are obtained for different sphere sizes, interparticle gaps, and polarization of the incident light. In view of (bio)sensing applications based on plasmon-enhanced optical spectroscopy such as surface-enhanced Raman/fluorescence (SERS/SEF), the sensitivity of various coupled plasmon modes to the variation of the interparticle gap is evaluated. The achievement of both red-shifting and blue-shifting plasmon modes offers ways to mechanically control the optical response of the linear oligomers in real-time and design new optical sensing protocols. Based on these findings, both an approach for trapping molecules into SERS hotspots and an approach for dual-mode SERS/SEF using a single excitation wavelength are proposed, contributing to the future development of (bio)sensing protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications)
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18 pages, 2155 KiB  
Article
Towards Rapid and Low-Cost Stroke Detection Using SERS and Machine Learning
by Cristina Freitas, João Eleutério, Gabriela Soares, Maria Enea, Daniela Nunes, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins, Hugo Águas, Eulália Pereira, Helena L. A. Vieira, Lúcio Studer Ferreira and Ricardo Franco
Biosensors 2025, 15(3), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15030136 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Stroke affects approximately 12 million individuals annually, necessitating swift diagnosis to avert fatal outcomes. Current hospital imaging protocols often delay treatment, underscoring the need for portable diagnostic solutions. We have investigated silver nanostars (AgNS) incubated with human plasma, deposited on a simple aluminum [...] Read more.
Stroke affects approximately 12 million individuals annually, necessitating swift diagnosis to avert fatal outcomes. Current hospital imaging protocols often delay treatment, underscoring the need for portable diagnostic solutions. We have investigated silver nanostars (AgNS) incubated with human plasma, deposited on a simple aluminum foil substrate, and utilizing Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) combined with machine learning (ML) to provide a proof-of-concept for rapid differentiation of stroke types. These are the seminal steps for the development of low-cost pre-hospital diagnostics at point-of-care, with potential for improving patient outcomes. The proposed SERS assay aims to classify plasma from stroke patients, differentiating hemorrhagic from ischemic stroke. Silver nanostars were incubated with plasma and spiked with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biomarker elevated in hemorrhagic stroke. SERS spectra were analyzed using ML to distinguish between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, mimicked by different concentrations of GFAP. Key innovations include optimized AgNS–plasma incubates formation, controlled plasma-to-AgNS ratios, and a low-cost aluminum foil substrate, enabling results within 15 min. Differential analysis revealed stroke-specific protein profiles, while ML improved classification accuracy through ensemble modeling and feature engineering. The integrated ML model achieved rapid and precise stroke predictions within seconds, demonstrating the assay’s potential for immediate clinical decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications)
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19 pages, 10129 KiB  
Article
Binding of Glutamic Acid to Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Investigated by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
by Vlasta Mohaček-Grošev, Marko Škrabić, Hrvoje Gebavi, Vesna Blažek Bregović, Ivan Marić, Vincenzo Amendola and Jože Grdadolnik
Biosensors 2024, 14(11), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14110522 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7261
Abstract
Glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter, which is relevant for the study of several diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer. It is the form L-glutamic acid (Glu) takes at physiologically relevant pHs. The surface-enhanced Raman spectra of Glu obtained at [...] Read more.
Glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter, which is relevant for the study of several diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer. It is the form L-glutamic acid (Glu) takes at physiologically relevant pHs. The surface-enhanced Raman spectra of Glu obtained at pH values ranging from 3.3 to 12 are collected in the presence of silver and gold colloids and on solid substrates. The observed bands are compared with the positions of calculated normal modes for free neutral glutamic acid, glutamic acid monohydrate, glutamic acid bound to gold and silver atoms, and sodium glutamate. Although gold atoms prefer to bind to the NH2 group as compared to carbonyl groups, silver atoms prefer binding to hydroxyl groups more than binding to the amino group. SERS spectra of glutamic acid solutions with a pH value of 12, in which both carboxylic groups are deprotonated, indicate a complexation of the glutamic acid dianion with the sodium cation, which was introduced into the solution to adjust the pH value. Further research towards an optimal substrate is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications)
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Review

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15 pages, 3804 KiB  
Review
Current Trends in In Vitro Diagnostics Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Translational Biomedical Research
by Sitansu Sekhar Nanda, Dae-Gyeom Park and Dong Kee Yi
Biosensors 2025, 15(5), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios15050265 - 22 Apr 2025
Abstract
Immunoassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are prosperous in disease diagnosis due to their excellent multiplexing ability, high sensitivity, and large dynamic range. Given the recent advancements in SERS immunoassays, this work provides a comprehensive overview, from fundamental principles to practical applications. An [...] Read more.
Immunoassays using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are prosperous in disease diagnosis due to their excellent multiplexing ability, high sensitivity, and large dynamic range. Given the recent advancements in SERS immunoassays, this work provides a comprehensive overview, from fundamental principles to practical applications. An mRNA sensor utilizing Raman spectroscopy is a detection method that leverages the unique vibrational characteristics of mRNA molecules to identify and quantify their presence in a sample, often achieved through a technique called SERS, where specially designed nanoparticles amplify the Raman signal, allowing for the highly sensitive detection of even small amounts of mRNA. This review analyzes SERS assays used to detect RNA biomarkers, which show promise in cancer diagnostics and are being actively studied clinically. To selectively detect a specific mRNA sequence, a probe molecule (e.g., a DNA oligonucleotide complementary to the target mRNA) is attached to the SERS substrate, allowing the target mRNA to hybridize and generate a detectable Raman signal upon binding. Thus, the discussion includes proposals to enhance SERS immunoassay performance, along with future challenges and perspectives, offering concise, valid guidelines for platform selection based on application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Biosensing Applications)
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