Surface-enhanced Raman scattering: A new tool for biomedical spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a phenomenon resulting in stron gly increased Raman signals when molecules are attached to nanometer-sized metallic structures, The effect combines the structural information content of Raman spectroscopy with ultrasensitive detection limits allowing Raman spectroscopy down to the single molecule level. Surface-enhanced Raman scat tering opens up exciting opportunities also in the field of biomedical spec troscopy where it allows to study structural-functional properties of biolo gically relevant molecules which are often available in extremely small amo unts only. This review mill deal with SERS studies in life sciences perform ed within the recent half decade. Before discussing examples for applicatio ns of SERS in biology, medicine and pharmacy, in a first chapter, the theor etical and experimental background of SERS studies at ultrasensitive detect ion limits in the biomedical field are briefly summarized. Potential and li mitations of SERS as a tool in biomedical spectroscopy will be considered.