Modification of a SERS-active Ag surface to promote adsorption of charged analytes: effect of Cu2+ ions

This work studies the impact of the electrostatic interaction between analyte molecules and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). For this, we fabricated nanostructured plasmonic films by immobilization of Ag NPs on glass plates and functionalized them by a set of differently charged hydrophilic thiols (sodium 2-mercaptoethyl sulfonate, mercaptopropionic acid, 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol hydrochloride, and thiocholine) to vary the surface charge of the SERS substrate. We used two oppositely charged porphyrins, cationic copper(II) tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphine (CuTMpyP4) and anionic copper(II) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (CuTSPP4), with equal charge value and similar structure as model analytes to probe the SERS signal. Our results indicate that the SERS spectrum intensity strongly, up to complete signal disappearance, correlates with the surface charge of the substrate, which tends to be negative. Using the data obtained and our model SERS system, we analyzed the modification of the Ag surface by different reagents (lithium chloride, polyethylenimine, polyhexamethylene guanidine, and multicharged metal ions). Finally, all those surface modifications were tested using a negatively charged oligonucleotide labeled with Black Hole Quencher dye. Only the addition of copper ions into the analyte solution yielded a good SERS signal. Considering the strong interaction of copper ions with the oligonucleotide molecules, we suppose that inversion of the analyte charge played a key role in this case, instead of a change of charge of the substrate surface. Changing the charge of analytes could be a promising way to get clear SERS spectra of negatively charged molecules on Ag SERS-active supports.

Plasmonic silvered nanostructures on macroporous silicon decorated with graphene oxide for SERS-spectroscopy

A method for fabricating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrates by immersion deposition of silver on a macroporous silicon (macro-PS) template with pore diameters and depth ranging from 500-1000 nm is developed. The procedure for the formation of nanostructured silver films in the layers of macro-PS was optimized. Silver particles of dimensions in the nano- and submicron-scale were formed on the external surface of the macro-PS immersed in the water-ethanol solution of AgNO_3, while the inner pore walls were covered by smaller, 10-30 nm diameter, silver nanoparticles. Upon introducing the hydrofluoric acid to the reaction mixture, the size of nanoparticles grown on the pore walls increased up to 100-150 nm. Such nanostructures were found to yield SERS-signal intensities from CuTMpyP4 analyte molecules of the same order to those obtained from silvered mesoporous silicon reported previously. The tested storage stability for the silvered macro-PS-based samples reached up to 8 months. However, degradation of the SERS intensity under illumination by the laser beam during spectral measurements was observed. To improve the stability of the SERS-signal a hybrid structure involving graphene oxide deposited on the top of analyte molecules adsorbed on the Ag/macro-PS was formed. A systematic observation of the time evolution of the characteristic peak at 1365 cm^-1 showed that the addition of the oxidized graphene layer over the analyte results in ∼2 times slower decay of the Raman intensity, indicating that the graphene coating can be used to enhance the stability of the SERS-signal from the CuTMpyP4 molecules.

Progress in the Development of SERS-Active Substrates Based on Metal-Coated Porous Silicon

The present work gives an overview of the developments in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with metal-coated porous silicon used as an active substrate. We focused this review on the research referenced to SERS-active materials based on porous silicon, beginning from the patent application in 2002 and enclosing the studies of this year. Porous silicon and metal deposition technologies are discussed. Since the earliest studies, a number of fundamentally different plasmonic nanostructures including metallic dendrites, quasi-ordered arrays of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), and metallic nanovoids have been grown on porous silicon, defined by the morphology of this host material. SERS-active substrates based on porous silicon have been found to combine a high and well-reproducible signal level, storage stability, cost-effective technology and handy use. They make it possible to identify and study many compounds including biomolecules with a detection limit varying from milli- to femtomolar concentrations. The progress reviewed here demonstrates the great prospects for the extensive use of the metal-coated porous silicon for bioanalysis by SERS-spectroscopy.

Formation Regularities of Plasmonic Silver Nanostructures on Porous Silicon for Effective Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering

Plasmonic nanostructures demonstrating an activity in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy have been fabricated by an immersion deposition of silver nanoparticles from silver salt solution on mesoporous silicon (meso-PS). The SERS signal intensity has been found to follow the periodical repacking of the silver nanoparticles, which grow according to the Volmer-Weber mechanism. The ratio of silver salt concentration and immersion time substantially manages the SERS intensity. It has been established that optimal conditions of nanostructured silver layers formation for a maximal Raman enhancement can be chosen taking into account a special parameter called effective time: a product of the silver salt concentration on the immersion deposition time. The detection limit for porphyrin molecules CuTMPyP4 adsorbed on the silvered PS has been evaluated as 10(-11) M.

Determination of antimony by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

A highly sensitive method for the detection and quantitative evaluation of antimony(III) using the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique is demonstrated. The method is based on the analysis of SERS spectra intensity of antimony bound to phenylfluorone (Sb-PhF). Phenylfluorone is widely used as an organic reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of some heavy metals. For the SERS experiment a Sb-PhF complex was adsorbed onto the silvered porous silicon substrate. The significant degradation of the SERS signal was observed during measurements in the air. The time evolution of SERS spectra at ambient and degassed conditions was investigated to find an optimal regime for SERS measurements. The limit of Sb detection in degassed samples was determined to be near 1 ng/mL, which is one order of magnitude less than that attainable by the photometric approach. The linear range of the method to Sb(III) was found to a mass concentration range of 1-10 ng/mL. This approach permits an absolute quantity of Sb(III) to be detected at the picogram level (∼50 pg). It is remarkable that a very small sample volume (50 μL) is required for SERS analysis. Moreover this technique offers high selectivity owing to the distinctive vibrational features for the metallorganic complex and to the resonance character of Raman spectra. The proposed SERS-based detection of Sb is a fast and highly sensitive method for use in environmental and industrial waste monitoring as well as for forensic science to determine gunshot residue. We expect that the approach reported herein can be further extended to develop new detection techniques for other heavy metals.

Resonance Raman and absorption properties of Zn(II) and Ni(II) polynitroporphyrins and their chemical reduction products

Electron-deficient metallocomplexes of dodeca- and octanitroporphyrins produced by the introduction of 8 β-nitro substituents or 8 β-nitro and a meta-nitro substituent on each meso-aryl ring of Zn (II) and Ni (II) [meso-tetra-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin] (Zn8, Ni8 and Zn12, Ni12, respectively) and their air-stable reduced species have been characterized by steady-state absorption and Soret-excited resonance Raman spectroscopies. One-electron reduced species of the metallocomplexes were produced by three different procedures (in deprotonated tetrahydrofuran in air ambient, in tetralhydrofuran with the addition of piperidine in air ambient, and in contact with a sodium mirror under vacuum) and demonstrated similar absorption and RR spectra. It is concluded on the basis of the RR spectra that the one-electron reduction products of the studied polynitrosubstituted metalloporphyrins are π–anion radicals in character.

FTIR spectra and normal-mode analysis of chlorin e(6) and its degradation-induced impurities

Fourier transform infrared spectra of chlorin e(6) and its trisodium salt are presented. The geometrical structure and frequencies of normal vibrations of both compounds were calculated using density functional method with the PBE exchange-correlation functional. The frequencies were assigned and IR spectra of the studied molecules were interpreted for the first time. Spectral effects of degradation of chlorin e(6) and its trisodium salt upon their storage on the air are analyzed. The possible structures of degraded species are discussed.

[Correction of hemocoagulation disorders in complicated forms of acute cholecystitis]

The comparative analysis of the low-molecular-weight heparin Clexane influence and the unfractionated heparin on the parameters of blood coagulation homeostasis in 70 patients with complicated forms of acute cholecystitis. The tendency for hypercoagulation is observed. Prophylactic use of Clexane in patients with complicated forms of acute cholecystitis, in comparison with unfractionated heparin, is accompanied by the decrease of coagulating potential of blood.

[Rational parenteral feeding in acute pancreatitis]

The efficiency of amino acid drugs Polyamine and Amikin as means of nutrition in treatment of acute pancreatitis are not inferior to the preparation Alvezin "New" (GDR), the degree of nitrogen retention being even superior.

[Amino acid spectrum of the blood during parenteral feeding of patients with acute pancreatitis using polyamine]

The investigation of the dynamics of changes of the plasma amino acid spectrum was performed in 58 patients with acute pancreatitis in parenteral feeding with the use of the amino acid preparation Polyamine. The parenteral feeding proved to be effective since by the end of the 5th day of the parenteral feeding the content of plasma amino acids approximated or even was higher than that in practically healthy people.

[Successes in the control of childhood droplet infections in the UkrSSR during the 60 years of Soviet government]

Marked achievements in reduction of morbidity and mortality from the main child infections were reached as a result of radical social changes during the years of Soviet power improvement of welfare of the population, science development, proper organization of antiepidemic measures, creation of effective prophylactic preparations and mass immunization. Poliomyelitis is practically wiped out in the Republic, diphtheria incidence fell sharply and whooping cough and measles incidence decreased considerably.