A novel structure with high surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity and bio-specificity as a SERS-based immuno-sensor (named as Raman reporter-labeled immuno-Au aggregate) is demonstrated and employed for protein detection. In each fabrication process, the features of those aggregates are obtained and characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) extinction spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures, and SERS spectra. Experimental results indicate that proper amounts of the reporter molecules can result in the moderate aggregation morphologies of gold nanoparticles. Compared with the previously reported method using Raman reporterlabeled immuno-Au nanoparticles, more sensitive SERS-based protein detection is realized with this novel immuno-sensor.
Optical methods and MTT method are used to characterize the antiproliferation effect of antitumor drug 9-aminoacridine (9AA) with and without silver nanoparticles. Intracellular surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra and fluorescent spectra of 9AA indicate the form of 9AA adsorbed on the surface of silver nanoparticles. Although both silver nanoparticles and antitumor drug can inhibit the growth of Hela cells, silver nanoparticles can slow down the antiproliferation effect on Hela cells at low concentration of antitumor drugs. Our experimental results suggest that silver nanoparticles may serve as slow-release drug carriers, which is important in antitumor drug delivery.