Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Neurotransmitter Detection

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a powerful analytical technique for the ultrasensitive and label-free detection of neurotransmitters. By exploiting the amplification of Raman scattering signals in proximity to plasmonic nanostructures, SERS overcomes the inherently weak cross-sections of molecular vibrations and permits quantification at physiological and sub-physiological concentrations. Recent advances in substrate engineering — including precise control of interparticle gaps, hybrid material integration and dynamic hotspot generation — have dramatically improved detection limits for key neuromodulators such as dopamine, serotonin, glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid. These developments address critical challenges in neurochemistry, enabling real-time monitoring of synaptic events, point-of-care diagnostics for neurological disorders and continuous biofluid surveillance in precision health. The global significance of SERS-based neurotransmitter sensing lies in its potential to revolutionise early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, inform targeted therapeutic interventions and support personalised monitoring devices that bridge laboratory research with clinical and environmental applications.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have introduced a spread-spectrum SERS approach that encodes excitation light and decodes Raman responses to suppress noise and enhance signal-to-noise ratios by over three orders of magnitude. This methodology achieves attomolar detection of multiple neurotransmitters — including dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate — without the need for exogenous Raman reporters. The exceptional temporal resolution and ultrasensitive performance open new avenues for early diagnostics of neurological disorders and cost-effective spectroscopic biosensing platforms suitable for integration into compact analytical devices.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Neurotransmitter Detection publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy for neurotransmitter detection across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS): A vibrational spectroscopy technique in which Raman scattering from molecules is greatly amplified by the enhanced electromagnetic fields near plasmonic nanostructures.

Plasmonic Nanogaps: Narrow interparticle separations (typically <5 nm) between metal nanostructures that concentrate electromagnetic fields and serve as SERS “hotspots”.

Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR): The coherent oscillation of conduction electrons in metallic nanoparticles excited by light, responsible for strong field enhancement and wavelength-tunable optical properties.

Hotspot: A highly localised region of intense electromagnetic field generated at nanoscale junctions or crevices on a plasmonic surface, key to achieving single-molecule sensitivity in SERS.

References

1. Spread spectrum SERS allows label-free detection of attomolar neurotransmitters. Nature Communications (2021).
2. SERS Sensing of Dopamine with Fe(III)‐Sensitized Nanogaps in Recleanable AuNP Monolayer Films. Small (2023).
3. A SERS Composite Hydrogel Device for Point-of-Care Analysis of Neurotransmitter in Whole Blood. Biosensors (2023).
4. Aggregation of Ag nanoparticle based on surface acoustic wave for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection of dopamine. Analytica Chimica Acta (2023).