Physics Commons^™

Improving Sers-Based Readout Strategy For Biomarker Detecting Immunoassays, Joseph Smolsky

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Detection and monitoring of disease biomarkers increases probability of successful disease treatment. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has several advantages over conventional readout strategies utilized in detecting immunoassays. SERS provides a method for chemical characterization based on molecular vibrational spectra. Raman signals are typically weak and need to be enhanced. This can be done using plasmons in nanoparticles of noble metals, we use gold (Au). Molecules with known spectra, Raman reporter molecules (RRM), can be adsorbed to Au nanoparticles. This enhances the Raman signal of the RRM when illuminated by a laser of optimal wavelength. Adding antibodies to nanoparticles modified …