SERS microfluidic paper-based analytical devices
- The fast identification and quantification of analytes in the field of food safety or environmental analysis is difficult. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an analytical method which can be used simultaneously for the rapid identification and concentration determination of trace analytes,[1,2] usually covering a large dynamic range from nanomolar up to molar concentrations. The identification of the molecules is accomplished through the specific fingerprint of a molecule’s Raman spectrum.
For facile and straightforward SERS measurements, we present here a combination of paper-based SERS test strips with microfluidic systems on paper as a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD). The SERS μPAD is thus principally suited for cheap, fast, non-destructive, label-free and portable detection of analytes. In this system basically, the use of the microfluidic structured paper increases the sensitivity and suppresses background signals of the SERS assay.
Deposition of theThe fast identification and quantification of analytes in the field of food safety or environmental analysis is difficult. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is an analytical method which can be used simultaneously for the rapid identification and concentration determination of trace analytes,[1,2] usually covering a large dynamic range from nanomolar up to molar concentrations. The identification of the molecules is accomplished through the specific fingerprint of a molecule’s Raman spectrum.
For facile and straightforward SERS measurements, we present here a combination of paper-based SERS test strips with microfluidic systems on paper as a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD). The SERS μPAD is thus principally suited for cheap, fast, non-destructive, label-free and portable detection of analytes. In this system basically, the use of the microfluidic structured paper increases the sensitivity and suppresses background signals of the SERS assay.
Deposition of the SERS substrate on the test strips is simple and relies on an inkjet printer. For the optimization of the reproducibility and intensity of the SERS signal, we tested different nanoparticles, different numbers of print cycles and different paper types. The nanoparticle solutions used in the μPAD preparation were gold and silver nanoparticle solutions. The paper types were cellulose and glass fiber. SERS arrays were prepared by printing and compared to arrays prepared by spraying. The optimized μPAD was used for the identification and quantification of pure analyte solutions (e.g., adenine) and mixtures of compounds, the concentration series following Langmuir isotherms.
Relevant analytes in the field of food safety are antibiotics and pesticides. We apply the SERS microfluidic paper-based analytical devices for the detection of antibiotics (enoxacin, enrofloxacin) and pesticides.…