Dynamic SERS imaging with gold nanoparticles transported in a living cell

Abstract

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used to detect biological molecules at a low concentration. We developed a rapid Raman imaging system, which can image dynamic activity of SERS agents, such as gold nanoparticles, in a living cell and the temporal behaviors of SERS spectra. Combination of slit scanning and an EM-CCD camera for measuring SERS spectra enables us to obtain a SERS image in a few seconds. The system can also be used to track a single particle moving in a cell with a laser focus and measure SERS spectra with a temporal resolution of 50 msec. By using the developed microscope systems, we monitored the change of SERS spectra associated cell transportation functions.