title: Ultrafast surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering detection in droplet-based microfluidic systems.
abstract: The development of ultrafast Raman-based detection is one of the most interesting challenges underpinning the application of droplet-based microfluidics. Herein, we describe the use of surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) with submillisecond time resolution as a powerful detection tool in microdroplet reactors. Individual droplets containing silver nanoparticle aggregates functionalized with Raman reporters are interrogated and characterized by full spectra acquisitions with high spatial resolution in real time. Whereas previous works coupling SERRS with droplet-based microfluidics acquire a single spectrum over single or multiple droplets, we build upon these results by increasing our temporal resolution by 2 orders of magnitude. This allows us to interrogate multiple points within one individual droplet. The SERRS signals emitted from the aggregates are utilized to access the influence of flow rate on droplet size and throughput. Accordingly, our approach allows for high-throughput analysis that facilitates the study of other biological assays or molecular interactions.
authors.affiliation: Materials Department, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Jongin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Chaesung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Jaebum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Demello
authors.forename: Joshua B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Edel
mesh_terms: D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D012834:Silver