Designing surface-enhanced raman scattering substrates using microgels with molecule-selective permeability

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is non-destructive and ultra-sensitive analytical tool using localized surface plasmon resonance on the surface of metal nanostructures. However, metal surfaces are prone to contamination by irreversible adsorption of large adhesive molecules, such as proteins, in the biological fluid, which hinders the access of small target molecules on the surface of the metal. The pretreatments such as centrifugation, dialysis are necessary for exclusion of large adhesive molecules. During pretreatment, the loss of target molecules and consumption of money and time is inevitable. In this thesis, I focus on direct detection of small molecules in biological fluids without pretreatment. Using microfluidics, I design the metal nanoparticle loaded the semi-permeable hydrogel. Metal nanoparticle makes SERS-active site and hydrogel render size or charge selectivity of molecules in the complex mixture.