A highly sensitive SERS-based platform for Zn(ii) detection in cellular media

Abstract

We report a highly sensitive and selective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based detection of aqueous Zn(ii) ions (limit of detection 10 M). Spectral changes for a silver nanoparticle-bound Raman reporter upon Zn(ii) chelation constitutes the assay, which is applied to drinking water and to measurements of cellular uptake of Zn(ii).

Recent advances in surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐based sensors for the detection of inorganic ions: Sensing mechanism and beyond

“…As we have discussed in this review, for most of the sensors whose sensing mechanism relies on chemical mechanism or surface selection rule, we could find a suitable SERS ratio between two different vibrational bands for quantitative analysis. [ 27,47,52 ] For the sensors whose sensing mechanism is mainly on the basis of electromagnetic mechanism, an internal standard should be considered to label onto a surface of plasmonic nanostructure to calibrate the variations in SERS intensity induced by the inhomogeneous hotspot distribution. [ 70 ] Combined with a hand‐held Raman instrument, these SERS‐based inorganic sensors can be used for on‐site detection of heavy metal ions.…”

“…According to different quantitative methods, these kinds of sensing systems can be divided into three types: absolute intensity‐based method, wavenumber shift‐based method, and ratiometric method. [ 36,37,47,52 ]…”

“…(b) A schematic illustration of Zn 2+ ions detection based on the SERS spectrum of the Ag NPs‐bound Raman reporter HBA. Adopted with permission from Zhuang et al [ 52 ] Copyright 2017, The Royal Society of Chemistry…”

“…Li et al described a Zn 2+ ions sensor by using N ′ N ‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐4‐aminophenyl disulfide (HBA) as both the Raman reporter and Zn 2+ receptor (Figure 3b). [ 52 ] Zn 2+ could coordinate with HBA through the phenol oxygen and N of the formazyl system. A monolayer of HBA probes was first modified onto the Ag NPs surface by means of the formation of covalent S–Ag bonds.…”

“…According to different quantitative methods, these kinds of sensing systems can be divided into three types: absolute intensity-based method, wavenumber shift-based method, and ratiometric method. [36,37,47,52] An absolute intensity-based sensor has been proposed by Li et al for the detection of F − ions (Figure 2a) [37] ; 1,4-diketo-3,6-diphenylpyrrolo [3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) was employed as both a Raman reporter and a recognition unit. The adsorption mode of DPP molecules is parallel to the substrate surface, and thus, only a feeble Raman signal of DPP was observed in the SERS spectrum owing to the surface selection rule.…”