title: The substrate matters in the Raman spectroscopy analysis of cells.
abstract: Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical method that allows deposited and/or immobilized cells to be evaluated without complex sample preparation or labeling. However, a main limitation of Raman spectroscopy in cell analysis is the extremely weak Raman intensity that results in low signal to noise ratios. Therefore, it is important to seize any opportunity that increases the intensity of the Raman signal and to understand whether and how the signal enhancement changes with respect to the substrate used. Our experimental results show clear differences in the spectroscopic response from cells on different surfaces. This result is partly due to the difference in spatial distribution of electric field at the substrate/cell interface as shown by numerical simulations. We found that the substrate also changes the spatial location of maximum field enhancement around the cells. Moreover, beyond conventional flat surfaces, we introduce an efficient nanostructured silver substrate that largely enhances the Raman signal intensity from a single yeast cell. This work contributes to the field of vibrational spectroscopy analysis by providing a fresh look at the significance of the substrate for Raman investigations in cell research.
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Mikoliunaite
authors: Semiconductor Physics, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.|Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors: Raul D
authors: RD
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Semiconductor Physics, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors: Evgeniya
authors: E
authors: Sheremet
authors: Microsystems and Biomedical Engineering, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Kolchuzhin
authors: Microsystems and Biomedical Engineering, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Mehner
authors: Department of Physical Chemistry, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.|Bio-NanoTechnology, Institute of Semiconductor Physics, State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors: Arunas
authors: A
authors: Ramanavicius
authors: Semiconductor Physics, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.|Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Technische Universität Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany.
authors: Dietrich R T
authors: DR
authors: Zahn
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D012834:Silver