Rapid and ultrasensitive (bio)chemical detection with dendritic metallic nanoparticle structures

对环境或生物样品中化合物的快速、定量和超灵敏检测的分析技术的需求在全球范围内不断增长。拉曼光谱法具有固有的生物化学特异性、样品制备简单和便携性，是原位样品检测的理想方法。拉曼光谱学的一种特定模式，称为“表面增强拉曼散射”（Sers），已经作为一种强大的分析技术出现，用于护理点诊断、爆炸物检测以及食品和水中的有害化学物质。Sers能够检测与金属纳米结构（1至100 nm）接触的分子，称为“热点”，并且可以将目标分子的拉曼信号增强高达14个数量级。

The need for analytical technologies that provide rapid, quantitative, and ultrasensitive detection of chemical compounds in environmental or biological samples is globally on the rise. Raman spectroscopy, with its inherent biochemical specificity, simplicity in sample preparation and portability potential is an ideal method for in situ sample testing. One particular mode of Raman spectroscopy, termed “Surface-enhanced Raman scattering” (SERS), has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for applications in point-of-care diagnostics, detection of explosives, and harmful chemicals in food and water. SERS enables detection of molecules in contact with metallic nanostructures (1 to 100 nm), known as "hotspots", and can enhance the Raman signal of a target molecule up to 14 orders of magnitude.