SERS-based trace-level quantification of sulindac: Spectroscopic and molecular modeling evaluation

SERS activity of silver nanoparticles and silver-modified 2D graphitic carbon nitride towards ciprofloxacin drug

Herein, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver-loaded graphitic carbon nitride (Ag@g-C3N4) nanocomposites have been synthesized and used as an effective surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates for the detection of low concentrations (10-14 M) of ciprofloxacin (CIP), a commonly bioactive medication used to treat bacterial illnesses. A combined approach of vibrational spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) has been developed to understand the possible modes of analyte (CIP) and SERS substrate (AgNPs and Ag@g-C3N4) interactions. Furthermore, it has been noticed that the behavior of drug molecules in terms of SERS response and energetics of interaction changed significantly when interacted with the noble metal AgNPs decorated onto the g-C3N4 framework in comparison to only AgNPs as substrate. The most prominent interaction scenario between AgNPs and CIP is likely to be through the -NH moiety of drug molecule with an interaction energy of -306 kcal/mol. Whereas, the CIP molecules adsorbed onto Ag@g-C3N4 nanocomposite were more flexible with interaction energy of -107 kcal/mol, suggesting a greater association of analyte with the skeletal modes of substrate leading to Raman enhancements in the low wavenumber region i.e. below 600 cm-1. Hence, the Ag@g-C3N4 nanocomposite-based SERS substrates investigated served two distinct spectral ranges, making them complementary of each other in terms of SERS detection of CIP. The characteristics of the computed frontier molecular orbitals indicated a pronounced amount of charge transfer between the drug and the substrate, highlighting the significance of the chemical mechanism of the overall process. These results represent a successful approach to have an extended spectral range that covers lower wavenumber shifts by applying simple and meaningful modifications to the normally utilized noble metal-based nanoparticles, which can lead to more effective and reliable detection of bioactive drugs.

Computational analysis of anti-cancer drug hydroxyurea adsorption on nanocages of gold, silver and copper: SERS and DFT assessment

The use of nanostructures in targeted drug delivery is effective in decreasing anticancer drug toxicity. Here, we discuss the theoretically predicted adsorption and interaction behavior of hydroxyurea [HU] with nano metal cages (nmC). HU interact the nmC through the N4 in primary amine with energies of -29.776, -30.684 and -22.105 kcal/mol for Au, Ag and Cu cage, respectively. As a result of reactivity studies, HU complexes with nmC (Au/Ag/Cu) are becoming more electrophilic and this gives the nmC system their bioactivity. It is suggested that nanocage is going to change the FMO's energy levels by means of absorption, so that it is used in drug administration. DOS and MEP were accomplished to gain additional understandings into the reactivity of proposed complexes. Method for improving the Raman signal of biomolecules is surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), which uses nanosized metal substrates. Chemical enhancement is evidenced by Mulliken charge distributions of all systems for detection and chemical compositions and exerts a significant role in determining them. In HU complexes containing nmC (Au/Ag/Cu), electron density was detected via ELF and LOL calculations. Based on the results of a non-covalent interaction (NCI) analysis, Van der Waals/hydrogen bonds/repulsive steric - interactions have been found. The title compound will also be analyzed in order to determine its bioactivity and drug likeness parameters, as a result, we will able to create a molecule with a highly favorable pharmacological profile and use the docking method to determine the values of the interaction energies for drug delivery. This study suggests that adsorption of drugs on nanocage surface occurs physically and functionalizing the nanocage has increased adsorption energy.

Non-covalent interaction, adsorption characteristics and solvent effect of procainamide anti-arrhythmias drug on silver and gold loaded silica surfaces: SERS spectroscopy, density functional theory and molecular docking investigations†

First-principle calculations were systematically carried out to explore the structural and electronic properties of the non-covalent interaction of procainamide (PA) anti-arrhythmias drug molecules on silver-loaded and gold-loaded silica nanostructures. Computed adsorption energies presented a higher affinity of PA towards the Ag–SiO₂ as compared with Au–SiO₂ surfaces. The non-covalent interaction analysis revealed a weak van der Waals type of forces and hydrogen bonding, associated with a noticeable repulsive steric interaction. It was conceived that silver and gold decorated silica can be used for drug administration in biological systems due to the fact that their frontier molecular orbital energy levels were considerably altered upon absorption, decreasing the pertinent energy gaps. Moreover, the electronic spectra of PA⋯Ag–SiO₂ and PA⋯Au–SiO₂ structures investigated in different solvents display a notable blue shift, suggesting that noble metal-loaded silica can be effective in the context of drug delivery systems. Therefore, silver- and gold-decorated silica of three possible drug adsorption scenarios was fully analyzed to realize the associated bioactivity and drug likeness. Theoretical findings suggest that Ag- and Au–SiO₂ nanocomposites can be considered potential drug delivery platforms for procainamide in medication protocols.

The structural and electronic properties of the non-covalent interaction of procainamide (PA) anti-arrhythmias drug molecules on silver-loaded and gold-loaded silica nanostructures were explored using first-principle calculations.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy for prostate cancer diagnosis: A review

The present review focuses on the diagnosis of prostate cancer using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. On the basis of literature search, SERS-based analysis for prostate cancer detection of different sample types is reported in the present study. Prostate cancer is responsible for nearly one-tenth of all cell cancer deaths among men. Significant efforts have been dedicated to establish precise and sensitive monitoring techniques to detect prostate cancer biomarkers in different types of body samples. Among the various spectro-analytical techniques investigated to achieve this objective, SERS spectroscopy has been proven as a promising approach that provides noticeable enhancements of the Raman sensitivity when the target biomolecules interact with a nanostructured surface. The purpose of this review is to give a brief overview of the SERS-basedapproach and other spectro-analytical strategies being used for the detection and quantification of prostate cancer biomarkers. The revolutionary development of SERS methods for the diagnosis of prostate cancer has been discussed in more details based on the reported literature. It has been noticed that the SERS-based immunoassay presents reliable results for the prostate cancer quantification. The EC-SERS, which integrates electrochemistry with the SERS model, could also offer a potential ultrasensitive strategy, although its application in prostate cancer analysis has been still limited.

Conformational analysis and concentration detection of linuron: Spectroscopic NMR and SERS study

Linuron is a commonly used organic herbicide which is used in plant growth control. Due to its potential health concerns, the characterization and monitoring of linuron have been a subject of several studies. In this work, we employed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques supported with the density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the conformational behavior and electronic aspects of linuron. The selective nuclear Overhauser effect (SelNOE) spectra confirmed that linuron exists predominantly in the anti configuration and is facilitated with a weak intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the acidic amide proton and oxygen of methoxy moiety. Quantum chemical results showed that the corresponding syn form of the molecule is 8.5 kcal/mol less stable. Further, the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was implemented as a potential spectroscopic protocol for the concentration monitoring of trace linuron. The Raman responses of four vibrational modes, namely CC stretching, CN stretching, N-H rocking and ring deformation, were successfully enhanced with an excellent linear concentration-intensity dependency. The aromatic CC stretching vibration at 1595 cm^-1 in the Raman spectra has demonstrated the highest enhancement factor (6.5 × 10⁴) and the lowest limit of detection (10^-7 M). The interaction of linuron with the gold nanocluster was simulated by establishing a simple DFT model which predicted that the most pronounced binding with the gold atom takes place at the benzene ring.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of flexible cotton fiber-Ag for rapid adsorption and detection of malachite green in fish

The residual of malachite green (MG) in fish is one of the major food safety concerns for consumers. It is important to develop simple and instant analytical methods to identify MG residues in fish. We fabricated flexible cotton surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate, which offers good flexibility, uniformity and excellent adsorption capability. The UV-vis DRS spectra, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron elemental mapping images shown that the Ag NPs were closely packed on the surface of cotton fiber. The adsorption feature of cotton fiber could adsorb MG from solution and surface of fish. The Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) sample preparation method was used to adsorb MG in fish for SERS sensing. The limit of detection of MG in fish using this developed method was as low as 0.05 ppm. The QuEChERS-SERS analysis method exhibits the capability for multiplex detecting mixture of MG and Dimetridazole at different ratios (5 ppm, 1/400 and 1/4000) from fish. The results indicated that the cotton fiber-Ag composite was suitable employed as SERS substrate for simple and instant detecting trace contaminants in food.