title: Highly sensitive SERS detection and quantification of sialic acid on single cell using photonic-crystal fiber with gold nanoparticles.
abstract: An ultrasensitive surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based sensing platform was developed to detect the mean sialic acid level on the surface of single cell with sensitivity as low as 2 fmol. This platform adopted the use of an interference-free Raman tag, 4-(dihydroxyborophenyl) acetylene (DBA), which selectively binds to sialic acid on the cell membrane. By loading the side channel of a photonic crystal fiber with a mixture of gold nanoparticles and DBA-tagged HeLa cell, and subsequently propagating laser light through the central solid core, strong SERS signal was obtained. This SERS technique achieved accurate detection and quantification of concentration of sialic acid on a single cell, surpassing previously reported methods that required more than 10(5) cells. Moreover, this platform can be developed into a clinical diagnostic tool to potentially analyze sialic acid-related diseases such as tumor malignancy and metastasis in real-time.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Bio-Optical Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Helios #01-02, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tianxun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; CINTRA CNRS/NTU/THALES, Research Techno Plaza, 50 Nanyang Drive, Border X Block, Level 6, Singapore 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Bio-Optical Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Helios #01-02, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667, Singapore.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Bio-Optical Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Helios #01-02, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667, Singapore.
authors.forename: Kong Kien
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Voon
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore; CINTRA CNRS/NTU/THALES, Research Techno Plaza, 50 Nanyang Drive, Border X Block, Level 6, Singapore 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Perry Ping
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.affiliation: Xlim UMR 6172, University of Limoges/CNRS, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, Limoges Cedex 87060, France.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Humbert
authors.affiliation: Xlim UMR 6172, University of Limoges/CNRS, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, Limoges Cedex 87060, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Auguste
authors.affiliation: CINTRA CNRS/NTU/THALES, Research Techno Plaza, 50 Nanyang Drive, Border X Block, Level 6, Singapore 637553, Singapore.
authors.forename: Xuan-Quyen
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. Electronic address: KTYONG@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Ken-Tye
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Bio-Optical Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Helios #01-02, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667, Singapore; School of Physics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: Malini_Olivo@sbic.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Malini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivo
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
keywords: 4-(dihydroxyborophenyl)acetylene; Gold nanoparticles; SERS; Sialic acid; Side channel PCF; Single cell