SERS probes for the detection and imaging of biochemical species on the nanoscale

Mikella E. Hankus; Brian M. Cullum

doi:10.1117/12.684684

20 October 2006 SERS probes for the detection and imaging of biochemical species on the nanoscale

Mikella E. Hankus, Brian M. Cullum

Proceedings Volume 6380, Smart Medical and Biomedical Sensor Technology IV; 638004 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.684684
Event: Optics East 2006, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract

We have developed novel surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based nanoimaging probes for dynamic chemical imaging in a non-scanning format. These probes have been developed for obtaining sub-diffraction limited chemical measurements of various biochemical species (e.g., lipids, proteins, etc.) as well as biological organisms (e.g., bacteria, etc.). They combine qualitative and quantitative information obtained from SERS with the imaging capabilities of coherent fiber optic bundles. Nanoimaging probes are fabricated from coherent fiber optic bundles composed of 30,000 individual 4 μm diameter fiber elements. Using a CO₂ laser based micropipette puller, bundles are tapered on one end resulting in the formation of equi-diameter individual elements tens of nanometers to hundreds of nanometers in diameter. Employing these probes, inherent image magnification and submicron spatial resolution is possible. Across these tapered probe tips, uniformly roughened surface features are creating by HF acid etching. These surface features consist of six cladding peaks that surround each individual fiber elements' core, which are uniform in size, shape, structure, and spacing. SERS active surfaces are created on the tapered tips of the probes by selectively depositing silver onto these cladding peaks, creating an array of highly ordered uniform silver islands across these nanoimaging probes' surfaces. This fabrication process results in a high degree of uniformity in SERS enhancement across the image surface of the probes (< 3.0% RSD), which is essential for reproducible quantitative imaging applications. Further SERS enhancement and specific excitation wavelength tuning can be achieved by controlling the spacing between silver islands and the overall size of the silver islands uniformly arrayed across these SERS probe tips. Characterization and imaging of biochemical species and model compounds using these SERS nanoimaging probes is presented in this manuscript.

Citation Download Citation

Mikella E. Hankus and Brian M. Cullum "SERS probes for the detection and imaging of biochemical species on the nanoscale", Proc. SPIE 6380, Smart Medical and Biomedical Sensor Technology IV, 638004 (20 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.684684

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available