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Application of Nano-Materials Technology and Raman Spectroscopy in Biochemical Sensors

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Dr. Wanyi Xie

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Precision Medical Single Molecule Diagnosis Technology Research Center, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Chongqing 400714, China
Interests: constructing a biochemical sensor based on nanopore single molecule technology and raman spectroscopy for life science and environmental detection research

Dr. Mingjie Tang

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Guest Editor

Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Interests: application and research of super-resolution optics in biomedical field

Dr. Weitao Huang

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Guest Editor

College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
Interests: biosensing; molecular sensing; disease diagnosis; environmental monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials, with their unique physicochemical properties, hold immense potential in the field of biochemical sensors. They enhance sensor sensitivity and selectivity, improving signal transmission efficiency. Metal nanostructures, such as gold and silver nanoparticles, are widely used in biomolecule detection due to their Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effect, enabling the high-sensitivity analysis of disease biomarkers. SERS technology offers in situ, non-destructive detection, fingerprint identification, and single-molecule level analysis, which is crucial for bio-chem sample analysis. SERS biochemical sensors typically qualitatively and quantitatively analyze target analytes based on changes in Raman-tagged molecular signals, encompassing target recognition and capture, the preparation of SERS substrates, and signal reading. Researchers have conducted outstanding studies in nanomaterial fabrication, probe design, and Raman spectral signal reading and analysis. The combination of nanomaterial technology and Raman spectroscopy in biochemistry sensing provides a new analytical method with high sensitivity and selectivity for biomolecule detection. With advancements in nanotechnology and Raman spectroscopy, SERS applications in the biosensing and imaging analysis of biomarkers, tumor cells, and microorganisms will become more extensive.

Dr. Wanyi Xie
Dr. Mingjie Tang
Dr. Weitao Huang
Guest Editors

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Research

23 pages, 4388 KB

Open AccessArticle

Solid-State Nanopore Single-Molecule Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 N Protein: From Interaction Exploration to Small-Molecule Antagonism

by Xiaoqing Zeng, Shinian Leng, Wenhao Ma, Zhenxin Wang, Huaming Zhang, Xiaowei Feng, Jianchao Li, Junsen Wang, Ting Weng, Rong Tian, Shixuan He, Shaoxi Fang, Bohua Yin, Liyuan Liang, Yajie Yin and Deqiang Wang

Sensors 2025, 25(22), 6870; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25226870 - 10 Nov 2025

Viewed by 649

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has exposed the urgency of research on rapid and efficient virus detection and strategies to inhibit its replication. Previous studies have mostly focused on traditional immunoassay or optical methods, but they have limitations in terms of sensitivity, timeliness, and in-depth analysis of molecular interaction mechanisms. Solid-state nanopore single-molecule detection methods, which can monitor molecular conditions in real time at the single-molecule level, bring new opportunities to solve this problem. The nucleocapsid protein (N protein) of SARS-CoV-2 was systematically investigated under different conditions, such as external drive voltage, pH, nanopore size, and N protein concentration. The translocation of the N protein through the nanopore was then analyzed. Subsequently, we analyzed the translocation characteristics of the N protein, RNA, and N protein–RNA complexes. With the aid of EMSA experiments, we conclusively confirmed that RNA binds to the N protein. Building on this finding, we further explored small molecules that could affect the nanopore translocation of N protein–RNA complexes, such as gallocatechin gallate (GCG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and the influenza A viral inhibitor Nucleozin. The results show that GCG can disrupt the liquid-phase condensation of the N protein–RNA complex and inhibit the replication of the N protein. Meanwhile, the structural isomer EGCG of GCG and the small molecule Nucleozin can also block RNA-triggered N protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). Our results confirmed that GCG, EGCG, and Nucleozin exhibit antagonistic effects on the N protein, with differences in their effective concentrations and the potency of their antagonism. Herein, using solid-state nanopore single-molecule detection technology, we developed an experimental method that can effectively detect RNA-induced changes in N protein properties and the regulatory effects of small molecules on the LLPS of N protein–RNA complexes. These findings not only provide highly valuable insights for in-depth research on the molecular interactions involved in viral replication, but also open up promising new avenues for future responses to similar viral outbreaks, the development of a rapid and effective detection method based on solid-state nanopores and single-molecule detection, and antiviral therapies targeting N protein–RNA interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nano-Materials Technology and Raman Spectroscopy in Biochemical Sensors)

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14 pages, 6527 KB

Open AccessArticle

Thickness-Tunable PDMS-Based SERS Sensing Substrates

by Diego P. Pacherrez Gallardo, Shu Kawamura, Ryo Shoji, Lina Yoshida and Binbin Weng

Sensors 2025, 25(9), 2690; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25092690 - 24 Apr 2025

Viewed by 1470

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an ultra-sensitive analytical method with the powerful signal-molecule detection capability. Coupling with the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) material, SERS can be enabled on a polymeric substrate for fast-developing bio-compatible sensing applications. However, due to PDMS’s high viscosity, conventional PDMS-SERS substrates are typically thick and stiff, limiting their freedom for engineering flexible micro/nano functioning devices. To address this issue, we propose to adopt a low viscosity decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) solvent as a diluent solution. Via controlling the mixture ratio of D5 and PDMS and the spin-coating speed for deposition, this method resulted in a film of a well-defined thickness from sub-millimeter down to a 100 nm scale. Furthermore, thanks to the unsaturated Si-H chemical bonds in the PDMS curing agent, the PDMS film could effectively reduce the

A g^{+}

ions to Ag nanoparticles (NPs) directly bonding onto the substrate surface uniformly. Via adjusting the size and density of the AgNPs through reaction temperature and time, strong SERS was achieved and verified using R6G with the detection limit down to 0.1 ppm, attributed to the AgNPs’ plasmonic enhancement effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nano-Materials Technology and Raman Spectroscopy in Biochemical Sensors)

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