SERS-based plasmonic nanobiosensing in single living cells

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2009 Feb;393(4):1135-41. doi: 10.1007/s00216-008-2521-y. Epub 2008 Dec 7.

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the development and application of a pH-sensitive plasmonics-active fiber-optic nanoprobe suitable for intracellular bioanalysis in single living human cells using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. The effectiveness and usefulness of SERS-based fiber-optic nanoprobes are illustrated by measurements of intracellular pH in HMEC-15/hTERT immortalized "normal" human mammary epithelial cells and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. The results indicate that fiber-optic nanoprobe insertion and interrogation provide a sensitive and selective means to monitor cellular microenvironments at the single cell level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques*
  • Calibration
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Nanotechnology*