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

在全球范围内，对能够快速、定量和超灵敏地检测环境或生物样品中的化合物的分析技术的需求正在上升。拉曼光谱以其固有的生物化学特异性、样品制备简单、便于携带等特点，是一种理想的原位样品检测方法。拉曼光谱的一种特殊模式，称为表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)，已成为一种强大的分析技术，可应用于现场诊断、爆炸物检测以及食品和水中的有害化学物质。SERS能够探测与金属纳米结构(1到100 nm)接触的分子，也就是所谓的“热点”，并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.