SERS-based ultrasensitive sensing platform: An insight into design and practical applications.

Ultrasensitive detection of chemicals and biological analytes in trace or single molecular level is highly desirable in both scientific and technological fields, e.g. , analytical chemistry, life science, materials science, biomedical diagnostics, and forensic science, etc . With high sensitivity, high specificity, narrow line-widths, and multiplexed non-destructive testing capabilities, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based sensing is the most promising approach to monitor targeted analytes in the vicinity of nanostructured surface. An insight into the recent advances of SERS-based ultrasensitive sensing platform can provide an effective reference guideline to develop an optimal detection approach for arising real-world applications. Many SERS-based review articles mainly focus on the fundamental theory of SERS, nanostructured plasmonic SERS sensors, and single molecule SERS detection. However, no comprehensive review article targeting SERS-based ultrasensitive detection strategies, their working mechanisms and illustrative practical applications has been reported yet. Hence, it is important to project the latest SERS-based ultrasensitive detection research in a review, which will present a reference guideline to develop an optimal detection approach for specific detection or monitoring of analytes in highly diluted solutions. We present a systematic classification and discussion on the recent multiple strategies to achieve ultra-high SERS detection sensitivity. We also outline a detailed analysis on the up-to-date applications in vitro and in vivo . Finally, we also discuss a new trend in SERS-based ultrasensitive sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]