A dual signal amplification nanosensor based on SERS technology for detection of tumor-related DNA

Abstract

A dual signal amplification method based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is developed by photo-triggered release of SERS probes from mesoporous silica-coated Au nanorods (SiO2@Au) and the use of a specially-designed SERS substrate with an internal reference. Two metal carbonyl (metal-CO) labels (Os-SCO and Re-SCO) are proposed here as novel interference-free labels. Results demonstrate that tumor-related DNA can be quantitatively detected by this reliable and ultra-sensitive SERS platform.