Observation of living cells with gold nanoparticles by using surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Abstract

We observed spatial and temporal behaviors of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals with gold nanoparticles in living cells. Gold nanoparticles with the diameter of 50 nm were introduced into macrophage cells through endocytosis. We performed observation of SERS signals from a macrophage with 785 nm excitation. Strong SERS signal from the particles in the cell was observed, and spectrum from each particle shows difference in Raman peaks and intensity. We also observed time-lapse SERS and dark-field image with a frame rate of 3 min. We confirmed that strong SERS signal from the particle in the cell and the spectral changes with positions of the particles in the cell.