Microfluidics and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: A Perfect Match for New Analytical Tools

Abstract

In this perspective article, we emphasize the combination of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and Microfluidic devices. SERS approaches have been widely studied and used for multiple applications including trace molecules detection, in situ analysis of biological samples and monitoring or, all of them with good results, however still with limitations of the technique, for example regarding with improved precision and reproducibility. These implications can be overcome by microfluidic approaches. The resulting coupling Microfluidics-SERS (MF-SERS) has recently gained increasing attention by creating thundering opportunities for the analytical field. For this purpose, we introduce some of the strategies developed to implement SERS within microfluidic reactor along with a brief overview of the most recent MF-SERS applications for biology, health and environmental concerns. Eventually, we will discuss future research opportunities of such systems.

Malaria Diagnostics

“…The system was tested on the P. falciparum antigen and WHO malaria non-infectious blood specimens with varying levels of parasite density. The SERS immunoassays are investigated to be coupled with RDTs [19,20] and lab-on-chip [21], in preparation for field-based application readiness. Khoshmanesh et al [22] explored optical attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for detection and quantification of the malaria parasite ring and gametocyte forms.…”

Microfluidics and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a win–win combination?

“…SERS substrate development is one of the primary research directions in the SERS community, and significant research efforts have been dedicated to developing plasmonic nanostructures for microfluidic SERS applications in the past few decades. 90,228–230 The selected examples in this article are not comprehensive; however, we highlighted the well-suited examples to explain the variety of SERS substrates in microfluidic devices and their applications in different fields.…”

Continuous Segmented-Flow Synthesis of Ag and Au Nanoparticles Using a Low Cost Microfluidic PTFE Tubing Reactor

“…Nowadays, the materials science community has been considering the use of flow chemistry -including microfluidic -as alternative to improve this kind of synthesis [19] due to the advantages offer by the small reaction volumes, the fast reaction rates, the rapid heat and mass transfer, the low operational costs [20], [21], and the possible parallelization and automation opportunities [22]. The microreactor can be fabricated with "on chip" configuration considering various materials depending on the reaction to be performed: polymers (PolyDimethylSiloxane), silicon, glass, metal or ceramics [23]. The inherent advantages of each materials (chemical Continuous segmented-flow synthesis of Ag and Au nanoparticles using a low cost microfluidic PTFE tubing reactor Gustavo Ochoa-Vazquez, Boris Kharisov, Ana Arizmendi-Morquecho, Anaïs Cario, Cyril Aymonier, Samuel Marre, and Israel López* inertness, temperature and pressure stability, etc.)…”