Conventional cancer diagnosis methods often involve invasive procedures or costly imaging technologies. Raman spectroscopy, though label-free and promising, faces limitations due to weak signals from cell membranes compared to cell interiors. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on noble metals has been explored but is constrained by high costs, poor repeatability, and toxicity.
Our approach introduces a cost-effective and biocompatible solution to enhance Raman spectroscopy. By utilizing rough aluminum substrates instead of traditional noble metals, we overcome challenges associated with expense and toxicity. This novel method enables the extraction of Raman signals from intact cell membranes, offering distinct biomarkers for precise cancer detection. The use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) ensures accurate Raman signal calibration, contributing to a reliable and scalable diagnostic technology with potential applications across various cancer types.
Schematic diagram of the Al SERS imaging of intact cell membrane.