Using a 3D Silicon Micro-Channel Device and Raman Spectroscopy for the Analysis of Whole Blood and Abnormal Blood

Micromachines (Basel). 2023 Dec 22;15(1):21. doi: 10.3390/mi15010021.

Abstract

Blood testing is a crucial application in the field of clinical studies for disease diagnosis and screening, biomarker discovery, organ function assessment, and the personalization of medication. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to collect precise data in a short time. In this study, we utilized Raman spectroscopy to analyze blood samples for the extraction of comprehensive biological information, including the primary components and compositions present in the blood. Short-wavelength (532 nm green light) Raman scattering spectroscopy was applied for the analysis of the blood samples, plasma, and serum for detection of the biological characteristics in each sample type. Our results indicated that the whole blood had a high hemoglobin content, which suggests that hemoglobin is a major component of blood. The characteristic Raman peaks of hemoglobin were observed at 690, 989, 1015, 1182, 1233, 1315, and 1562-1649 cm-1. Analysis of the plasma and serum samples indicated the presence of β-carotene, which exhibited characteristic peaks at 1013, 1172, and 1526 cm-1. This novel 3D silicon micro-channel device technology holds immense potential in the field of medical blood testing. It can serve as the basis for the detection of various diseases and biomarkers, providing real-time data to help medical professionals and patients better understand their health conditions. Changes in biological data collected in this manner could potentially be used for clinical diagnosis.

Keywords: 3D silicon micro-channel device; Raman spectroscopy; biological information; blood testing; hemoglobin.

Grants and funding

The authors would like to extend their thanks to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, Republic of China (contract number: MOST 109-2224-E-011-002) for supporting this research and publication.