Microfluidic-SERS devices for one shot limit-of-detection

Analyst. 2014 Jul 7;139(13):3227-3234. doi: 10.1039/c4an00357h.

Abstract

Microfluidic sensing platforms facilitate parallel, low sample volume detection using various optical signal transduction mechanisms. Herein, we introduce a simple mixing microfluidic device, enabling serial dilution of introduced analyte solution that terminates in five discrete sensing elements. We demonstrate the utility of this device with on-chip fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of analytes, and we demonstrate device use both when combined with a traditional inflexible SERS substrate and with SERS-active nanoparticles that are directly incorporated into microfluidic channels to create a flexible SERS platform. The results indicate, with varying sensitivities, that either flexible or inflexible devices can be easily used to create a calibration curve and perform a limit of detection study with a single experiment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / instrumentation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Optical Imaging / instrumentation
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Gold