Analysis of human tear fluid by Raman spectroscopy

Tear fluid is a complex aqueous solution containing proteins, metabolites, electrolytes and lipids. This study uses Raman spectroscopy to analyse the composition of human tear fluid from three healthy volunteers. Two different methods are used to obtain Raman spectra from the 3 μL tear samples: (i) solution-phase Raman spectroscopy, and (ii) drop coating deposition Raman spectroscopy (DCDRS). Tear samples were either basal fluid, or yawn reflex secreted fluid. Calibration of the solution technique with standard protein solutions (5-15 mg mL⁻¹) showed that this method could predict the protein concentration (cross-validation) with an error of less than 1 mg mL⁻¹. The Raman signals from the tear fluid were very weak but signals due to protein and urea were clearly observable in all samples. The drop coating deposition technique was shown to produce very high signal-to-noise spectra for relatively short acquisition times, and small sample volumes. Raman point mapping combined with principal components analysis showed that the protein, urea, bicarbonate and lipid could all be detected in the tear samples and that the distribution of these components was inhomogeneous. Their position within the drying pattern was shown to depend on their relative solubilities. The results of this study suggest that solution Raman measurements may be calibrated to give the total tear protein concentration and DCDRS could be used to give a fingerprint of the tear protein (and lipid) composition.     

SERS: a versatile tool in chemical and biochemical diagnostics

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool in various research fields. The technique yields structural information from all kind of samples often without the need for extensive sample preparation. Since the Raman signals are inherently weak and therefore do not allow one to investigate substances in low concentrations, one possible approach is surface-enhanced (resonance) Raman spectroscopy. Here, rough coin metal surfaces enhance the Raman signal by a factor of 10⁴–10¹⁵, depending on the applied method. In this review we discuss recent developments in SERS spectroscopy and their impact on different research fields.     

Label‐Free Molecular Imaging of Biological Cells and Tissues by Linear and Nonlinear Raman Spectroscopic Approaches

Raman spectroscopy is an emerging technique in bioanalysis and imaging of biomaterials owing to its unique capability of generating spectroscopic fingerprints. Imaging cells and tissues by Raman microspectroscopy represents a nondestructive and label‐free approach. All components of cells or tissues contribute to the Raman signals, giving rise to complex spectral signatures. Resonance Raman scattering and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering can be used to enhance the signals and reduce the spectral complexity. Raman‐active labels can be introduced to increase specificity and multimodality. In addition, nonlinear coherent Raman scattering methods offer higher sensitivities, which enable the rapid imaging of larger sampling areas. Finally, fiber‐based imaging techniques pave the way towards in vivo applications of Raman spectroscopy. This Review summarizes the basic principles behind medical Raman imaging and its progress since 2012.     

Chemical Enhancement and Quenching in Single-Molecule Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Despite intensive research in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), the influence mechanism of chemical effects on Raman signals remains elusive. Here, we investigate such chemical effects through tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) of a single planar ZnPc molecule with varying but controlled contact environments. TERS signals are found dramatically enhanced upon making a tip–molecule point contact. A combined physico-chemical mechanism is proposed to explain such an enhancement via the generation of a ground-state charge-transfer induced vertical Raman polarizability that is further enhanced by the strong vertical plasmonic field in the nanocavity. In contrast, TERS signals from ZnPc chemisorbed flatly on substrates are found strongly quenched, which is rationalized by the Raman polarizability screening effect induced by interfacial dynamic charge transfer. Our results provide deep insights into the understanding of the chemical effects in TERS/SERS enhancement and quenching.     

Effect of Strong Irradiation on Raman Magnetic Resonance in an AX Spin System

In Raman magnetic resonance an initially prepared multiple quantum coherence (MQC) in a spin system introduces all the possible single quantum (SQ) and multiple quantum (MQ) NMR signals when an irradiation is applied during the detection period. If the irradiation is weak, the induced signals include those MQs up to the very order of this given MQC, while in the strong irradiation case, those MQs beyond the very order of the given MQC will also appear. An analytical approach based on the product formalism is developed to predict the intensities and frequencies of these induced signals. The analysis provides a complete treatment to cover both cases of weak and strong irradiation. It is also demonstrated with an AX spin system. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the analysis.     

Detection of Circularly Polarized Luminescence of a Cs‐EuIII Complex in Raman Optical Activity Experiments

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectra are extremely sensitive to molecular structure. However, conventional CPL measurements are difficult and require expensive instrumentation. As an alternative, we explore CPL using Raman scattering and Raman optical activity (ROA) spectroscopy. The cesium tetrakis(3‐heptafluoro‐butylryl‐(+)‐camphorato) europium(III) complex was chosen as a model as it is known to exhibit very large CPL dissymmetry ratio. The fluorescent bands could be discriminated from true Raman signals by comparison of spectra acquired with different laser excitation wavelengths. Furthermore, the ROA technique enables fluorescence identification by measuring the degree of circularity. The CPL dissymmetry ratio was measured as the ROA circular intensity difference of 0.71, the largest one ever reported. The alternative CPL measurement enhances applications of lanthanides in analytical chemistry and chemical imaging of biological objects.     

Raman spectroscopy in astrobiology

Raman spectroscopy is proposed as a valuable analytical technique for planetary exploration because it is sensitive to organic and inorganic compounds and able to unambiguously identify key spectral markers in a mixture of biological and geological components; furthermore, sample manipulation is not required and any size of sample can be studied without chemical or mechanical pretreatment. NASA and ESA are considering the adoption of miniaturised Raman spectrometers for inclusion in suites of analytical instrumentation to be placed on robotic landers on Mars in the near future to search for extinct or extant life signals. In this paper we review the advantages and limitations of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of complex specimens with relevance to the detection of bio- and geomarkers in extremophilic organisms which are considered to be terrestrial analogues of possible extraterrestial life that could have developed on planetary surfaces.     

Theoretical determination of the vibrational Raman optical activity signatures of helical polypropylene chains.

Raman and vibrational Raman optical activity (VROA) spectra of helical conformers of polypropylene chains are simulated using ab initio methods to unravel the relationships between the vibrational signatures and the primary and secondary structures of the chains. For a polypropylene chain containing three units, conformational effects are shown to lead to more acute signatures for VROA than for Raman spectra. In addition to regular polypropylene chains, which can display right and left helicities with the same probability, chirality and therefore helicity are enforced by substituting one chain end with a phenyl group. The simulations predict that the threefold helical structures, which correspond to (TG)(N) conformations of the backbone, have a specific VROA backward signature in the form of an intense couplet around 1100 cm(-1). This couplet is associated with collective wagging and twisting motions, while most of its intensity comes from the anisotropic invariants combining normal coordinate derivatives of the electric dipole-electric dipole polarizability and of the electric dipole-magnetic dipole polarizability. A similar signature has already been found in model helical polyethylene chains, whereas it is very weak in forward VROA.     

Characterization and use of a Raman liquid-core waveguide sensor using preconcentration principles

A novel Raman sensor using a liquid-core optical waveguide is reported, implementing a Teflon-AF 2400 tube filled with water. An aqueous analyte mixture of benzene, toluene and p-xylene was introduced using a 1000 μl sample loop to the liquid-core waveguide (LCW) sensor and the analytes were preconcentrated on the inside surface of the waveguide tubing. The analytes were then eluted from the waveguide using an acetonitrile-water solvent mixture injected via a 30 μl eluting solvent loop. The preconcentration factor was experimentally determined to be 14-fold, in reasonable agreement with the theoretical preconcentration factor of 33 based upon the sample volume to elution volume ratio. Raman spectra of benzene, toluene and p-xylene were obtained during elution. It was found that analytically useful Raman signals for benzene, toluene and p-xylene were obtained at 992, 1004 and 1206 cm⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviation of the method was 3% for three replicate measurements. The limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 730 ppb (parts per billion by volume) for benzene, exceptional for a system that does not resort to surface enhancement or resonance Raman approaches. The Raman spectra of these test analytes were evaluated for qualitative and quantitative analysis utility.     

表面增强拉曼散射活性基底

表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)是人们将激光拉曼光谱应用到表面科学研究中所发现的异常表面光学现象。它可以将吸附在材料表面的分子的拉曼信号放大106到1014倍,这使其在探测器的应用和单分子检测方面有着巨大的发展潜力。由于分子所吸附的基底表面形态是SERS效应能否发生和SERS信号强弱的重要影响因素,所以分子的承载基体是很关键的,因而SERS活性基底的研究一直是该领域的研究热点之一。本文总结了形态各异的表面增强拉曼散射活性基底,分析了最新发展并对其未来作一展望。     

Overview of Popular Techniques of Raman Spectroscopy and Their Potential in the Study of Plant Tissues

Raman spectroscopy is one of the main analytical techniques used in optical metrology. It is a vibration, marker-free technique that provides insight into the structure and composition of tissues and cells at the molecular level. Raman spectroscopy is an outstanding material identification technique. It provides spatial information of vibrations from complex biological samples which renders it a very accurate tool for the analysis of highly complex plant tissues. Raman spectra can be used as a fingerprint tool for a very wide range of compounds. Raman spectroscopy enables all the polymers that build the cell walls of plants to be tracked simultaneously; it facilitates the analysis of both the molecular composition and the molecular structure of cell walls. Due to its high sensitivity to even minute structural changes, this method is used for comparative tests. The introduction of new and improved Raman techniques by scientists as well as the constant technological development of the apparatus has resulted in an increased importance of Raman spectroscopy in the discovery and defining of tissues and the processes taking place in them.     

介孔SiO_2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm厚金膜表面制备约40 nm厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜,然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜,形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构,有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散.基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出,在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强.由于空间重叠,该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号,产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰.利用Kretschmann结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果,并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较.结果表明,在SPR条件下,Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号,而且在586 cm-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40倍,这归功于MPS薄膜.进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关.这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

Diagnostic Raman spectroscopy for the forensic detection of biomaterials and the preservation of cultural heritage

This paper reviews the contributions of analytical Raman spectroscopy to the non-destructive characterisation of biological materials of relevance to forensic science investigations, including the sourcing of resins and the identification of the biodegradation of art and archaeological artefacts. The advantages of Raman spectroscopy for non-destructive analysis are well-appreciated; however, the ability to record molecular information about organic and inorganic species present in a heterogeneous specimen at the same time, the insensitivity of the Raman scattering process to water and hydroxyl groups, which removes the necessity for sample desiccation, and the ease of illumination for samples of very small and very large sizes and unusual shapes are also apparent. Several examples are used to illustrate the application of Raman spectroscopic techniques to the characterisation of forensic biomaterials and for the preservation of cultural heritage through case studies in the following areas: wall-paintings and rock art, human and animal tissues and skeletal remains, fabrics, resins and ivories.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of the sorosilicate mineral hemimorphite Zn4(OH)2Si2O7 · H2O

Raman spectroscopy complimented by infrared spectroscopy has been used to study the mineral hemimorphite from different origins. The Raman spectra show consistently similar spectra with only one sample showing additional bands due to the presence of smithsonite. Raman bands observed at 3510–3565 and 3436–3455 cm⁻¹ are assigned to OH stretching vibrations. Using a Libowitzky type formula, these OH bands provide hydrogen bond distances of 0.2910, 0.2825, 0.2762 and 0.2716 pm. Water bending modes are observed in the Raman spectrum at 1633 cm⁻¹. An intense Raman band at 930 cm⁻¹ is attributed to SiO symmetric stretching vibration of the Si₂O₇ units. Raman bands observed at 451 and 400 cm⁻¹are attributed to out-of-plane bending vibrations of the Si₂O₇ units. Raman bands at 330, 280, 168 and 132 cm⁻¹ are assigned to ZnO and OZnO vibrations.     

介孔SiO2薄膜增敏SERS基底在消逝波激励下的特性表征

采用溶胶-凝胶分子模板法在50 nm 厚金膜表面制备约40 nm 厚介孔二氧化硅(MPS)薄膜, 然后在MPS薄膜表面静电自组装金纳米粒子(GNP)单层膜, 形成的多层膜结构用作表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)基底.利用扫描电镜观测到MPS薄膜具有表面开口多孔结构, 有助于小分子向薄膜内快速扩散. 基于时域有限差分(FDTD)方法对电场分布的仿真结果指出, 在表面等离子体共振(SPR)条件下分布于金膜与GNP之间的消逝场显著增强. 由于空间重叠, 该增强场能够高效激发MPS内富集的小分子拉曼信号, 产生的拉曼信号还可免受金属作用的干扰. 利用Kretschmann 结构和尼罗蓝(NB)拉曼活性分子测试了Au/MPS/GNP基底在785 nm激发波长下的SERS效果, 并与Au/GNP基底进行了比较. 结果表明, 在SPR条件下, Au/MPS/GNP基底能够导致较强的定向和背向拉曼信号, 而且在586 cm^-1处的背向拉曼信号强度是Au/GNP基底的40 倍, 这归功于MPS薄膜. 进一步测试表明背向拉曼信号强度与NB浓度成正相关. 这意味着Au/MPS/GNP基底具有良好的半定量检测本领.     

Preparative isotachophoresis with surface enhanced Raman scattering as a promising tool for clinical samples analysis

A surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrometry is an interesting alternative for a rapid molecular recognition of analytes at very low concentration levels. The hyphenation of this technique with advanced separation methods enhances its potential as a detection technique. Until now, it has been hyphenated mainly with common chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques. This work demonstrates for a first time a power of preparative isotachophoresis-surface enhanced Raman scattering spectrometry (pITP-SERS) combination on the analysis of model analyte (buserelin) in a complex biological sample (urine). An off-line identification of target analyte was performed using a comparison of Raman spectra of buserelin standard with spectra obtained by the analyses of the fractions from preparative isotachophoretic runs. SERS determination of buserelin was based on the method of standard addition to minimize the matrix effects. The linearity of developed method was obtained in the concentration range from 0.2 to 1.5 nmol L(-1) with coefficient of determination 0.991. The calculated limit of detection is in tens of pico mols per liter.     

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering in Graphene Quantum Dots Grown via Electrochemical Process

Graphene Quantum dots (GQDs) are used as a surface-enhanced Raman substrate for detecting target molecules with large specific surface areas and more accessible edges to enhance the signal of target molecules. The electrochemical process is used to synthesize GQDs in the solution-based process from which the SERS signals were obtained from GQDs Raman spectra. In this work, GQDs were grown via the electrochemical process with citric acid and potassium chloride (KCl) electrolyte solution to obtain GQDs in a colloidal solution-based format. Then, GQDs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. From the results, SERS signals had observed via GQDs spectra through the Raman spectra at D (1326 cm⁻¹) and G (1584 cm⁻¹), in which D intensity is defined as the presence of defects on GQDs and G is the sp² orbital of carbon signal. The increasing concentration of KCl in the electrolyte solution for 0.15M to 0.60M demonstrated the increment of Raman intensity at the D peak of GQDs up to 100 over the D peak of graphite. This result reveals the potential feasibility of GQDs as SERS applications compared to graphite signals.     

Temporal Response of SERS to the Potential for 4-Cyanopyridine Adsorbed on Ag Electrode

Time-resolved surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was applied to study the response of Raman bands from 4-cyanopyridine (PyCN) adsorbed on a Ag electrode to variation of the potential; the temporal resolution was 0.1 s. The response of the SERS signals of PyCN was instantaneous to the oxidation potential of Ag electrode. However, delay of the SERS signals was observed while AgCl was reducing. The decay and growth of the SERS bands look place within 1 s in the cases of desorption and adsorption of PyCN on the electrode. It took much longer for PyCN to alter from one adsorption geometry to another on the electrode.     

Chemical Applications of Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectorscopy is—like infrared spectroscopy—a method for the study of vibrations of molecules and crystals. The two methods are complementary: if a vibration results in a change of the polarizability of a molecule, it is Raman active; if a change in the molecular dipole moment results, it is infrared active Vibrations of nonpolar groups and totally symmetrical vibrations of molecules are often only Raman active. IR and Raman spectra together give information about the symmetries and structures of molecules and crystals and about the properties of chemical bonds and intermolecular interactions. Until about 10 years ago Raman spectra could only be recorded on relatively large amounts of essentially colorless substances. After the advent of laser light sources the situation changed completely. The amount of sample substance required is now in the region of milli- and micrograms. Gases, liquids and solid samples, especially air-sensitive and reactive substances, single crystals, crystal needles and filaments as well as aqueous solutions can be readily investigated. The identification of molecules and the elucidation of molecular structures, biochemical analysis, and control of evnivornmental pollution are important aplications of Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy now constitutes an additional powerful tool in instrumental analysis     

Advances in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for analysis of pharmaceuticals: A review

Recently, Raman spectroscopy become a popular and potential analytical technique for the analysis of pharmaceuticals as a result of its advancement. The innovation of laser technology, Fourier Transform-Raman spectrometers with charge coupled device (CCD) detectors, ease of sample preparation and handling, mitigation of sub-sampling problems using different geometric laser irradiance patterns and invention of different optical components of Raman spectrometers are contributors of the advancement of Raman spectroscopy. Transmission Raman Spectroscopy is a useful tool in pharmaceutical analysis to address the problems related with sub-sampling in conventional Raman back scattering. More importantly, the development of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been a prominent advancement for Raman spectroscopy to be applied for pharmaceuticals analysis as it avoids the inherent insensitivity and fluorescence problems. As the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) contain aromatic or conjugated domains with strong Raman scattering activity, Raman spectroscopy is an attractive alternative conventional analytical method for pharmaceuticals. Coupling of Raman spectroscopy with separation techniques is also another advancement applied to reduce or avoid possible spectral interferences. Therefore, in this review, transmission Raman spectroscopy, SERS, and SERS coupled with various separation techniques for pharmaceutical analysis are presented.