A Highly Sensitive and Rapid SERS Detection of GSH Based on Hollow Urchin-like Gold Nanoparticles

Glutathione (GSH) plays a key role in many biochemical pathways and the detection of it is of great importance. In this paper, a highly sensitive and rapid detection based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was developed, using the competitive substitution between GSH and p-nitrobenzothiol (PNTP) via the Au-S bond on hollow urchin-like gold nanoparticles (HU-GNPs) surface. By Au-S bond, PNTP could easily connect on HU-GNPs surface, where many branches and edges existed and generated a multitude of “hot spots”. Besides, the benzene ring of PNTP also magnified SERS signals. The SERS intensity of PNTP changes was related to the GSH added into the reaction system and there existed linear relationship between SERS intensity and GSH concentrations from 1-10 nM. Owing to its high sensitivity, this method would help to promote the GSH research in biological systems.