A hybrid system with highly enhanced graphene SERS for rapid and tag-free tumor cells detection

Ningbo Yi; Chen Zhang; Qinghai Song; Shumin Xiao

doi:10.1038/srep25134

A hybrid system with highly enhanced graphene SERS for rapid and tag-free tumor cells detection

Sci Rep. 2016 Apr 27:6:25134. doi: 10.1038/srep25134.

Authors

Ningbo Yi¹, Chen Zhang¹, Qinghai Song², Shumin Xiao¹

Affiliations

¹ Integrated Nanoscience Lab, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Graduate School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
² Integrated Nanoscience Lab, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, Shenzhen Graduate School, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.

Abstract

By dint of unique physical/chemical properties and bio-compatibility, graphene can work as a building block for a SERS substrate and open up a unique platform for tumor cells detection with high sensitivity. Herein we demonstrate a facile system with highly enhanced surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of graphene (G-SERS). The system consists of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sandwiched by silver and gold nanostructures. Due to the ultrasmall thickness of rGO, the inter-coupling between Ag and Au nanoparticles is precisely controlled and the local field enhancement has been improved to more than 70 times. Associated with the unique chemical mechanism of rGO, the hybrid system has been utilized to identify tumor cells without using any biomarkers. We believe this research will be important for the applications of rGO in cancer screening.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biosensing Techniques
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Separation / methods*
Gold / chemistry
Graphite / chemistry*
Humans
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
Silver / chemistry
Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*
Surface Properties

Substances

Silver
Gold
Graphite