Sensing proteins with adaptive metal nanostructures

Abstract

Raman scattering spectra enable molecular "fingerprinting", which is of particular interest for molecular sensing and bio-applications. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) provides greater detection sensitivity than conventional Raman spectroscopy, and it is quickly gaining traction in the study of biological molecules adsorbed on a metal surface. SERS spectroscopy allows for the detection and analysis of minute quantities of analytes because it is possible to obtain high-quality SERS spectra at sub-monolayer molecular coverage as a result of the large scattering enhancements. SERS has also been shown to be sensitive to molecular orientation and the distance of the molecule to the metal surface. © 2007 Springer.