Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy and Bacteriophages Team Up: Dynamic Synergy for Medical and Environmental Applications

Abstract

Bacteriophages are emerging as a promising alternative in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria amidst the escalating global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Recently, there has been a notable resurgence of interest in phages, prompting extensive research into their therapeutic potential. Beyond conventional microbiology and virology techniques, such as genomics and proteomics, novel phenotypic and chemical characterization methods are being explored. Among these, there is a growing interest in vibrational spectroscopy, especially in advanced modalities such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), and atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), which offer improved sensitivity and spatial resolution. This review explores the spectrum of uses of vibrational spectroscopy for bacteriophages, including its role in diagnostics, biosensing, phage detection, assistance in phage-based therapy, and advancing basic research.