Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanoparticles have emerged as powerful optical probes that leverage plasmonic amplification to produce ultra-sensitive molecular fingerprints of biological targets. By decorating metallic nanostructures with Raman reporter molecules and targeting ligands, these constructs combine high photostability, multiplexing capacity and molecular specificity. In biomedical research, SERS nanoparticles have been studied for applications ranging from intraoperative guidance in cancer surgery and real-time endoscopic imaging of precancerous lesions to multiplexed detection of tumour biomarkers in liquid biopsies and monitoring of vascular inflammation in cardiovascular disease. Advances in nanoparticle design—such as polymer coatings for biocompatibility, anisotropic shapes for tunable plasmon resonance and receptor-specific functionalisation—have improved signal uniformity, reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced targeting accuracy. Ratiometric quantification methods correct for nonspecific accumulation, enabling reliable discrimination between diseased and normal tissues. The integration of SERS modalities with conventional fluorescence or endoscopic platforms has further broadened clinical potential by offering rapid, non-invasive and quantitative assessment of molecular signatures at the cellular and tissue levels.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the clinical promise of SERS nanoparticles in surgical and imaging contexts. One foundational report introduced a topical multiplex strategy for tumour-margin assessment during lumpectomy, applying receptor-targeted SERS probes to excised breast tissue and using ratiometric analysis to distinguish cancerous from normal margins in under 15 minutes. Another contribution described a dual-modal endoscopic system integrating fluorescence and SERS detection, enabling simultaneous fast fluorescence screening and high-resolution multiplexed Raman characterisation of gastrointestinal lesions. A further investigation examined nanoparticle-cell interactions in live breast cancer models, revealing that antibody-conjugated SERS tags undergo rapid cellular uptake and compartmentalisation, emphasising the importance of accounting for endocytotic pathways when interpreting dynamic biomarker maps.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanoparticles in Biomedical Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in surface-enhanced raman scattering nanoparticles in biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS): A technique that uses plasmonic nanostructures to amplify Raman signals of adsorbed molecules, enabling highly sensitive biochemical detection.

Nanoparticle: A particle with dimensions in the 1–100 nm range, often engineered with tailored surface chemistry and optical properties for biomedical targeting and imaging.

Ratiometric Analysis: A quantitative method comparing signals from targeted and control probes to correct for nonspecific binding and delivery variability.

Multiplexed Imaging: The simultaneous detection of multiple molecular targets within a single assay, achieved by encoding probes with distinct optical signatures.

References

1. Quantitative molecular phenotyping with topically applied SERS nanoparticles for intraoperative guidance of breast cancer lumpectomy. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. Fluorescence-Raman Dual Modal Endoscopic System for Multiplexed Molecular Diagnostics. Scientific Reports (2015).
3. Investigation of cellular uptake mechanism of functionalised gold nanoparticles into breast cancer using SERS. Chemical Science (2020).
4. Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis and Monitoring. Cancers (2019).
5. 3D optical imaging of multiple SERS nanotags in cells. Chemical Science (2013).
6. In vivo multiplex molecular imaging of vascular inflammation using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Theranostics (2018).