CNT – enhanced Raman spectroscopy and its application: DNA detection and cell visualization

Abstract

We have experimentally observed an enhancement of Raman scattering on surface plasmons in Si coated by complexes of ds-DNA with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) chemically modified and functionalized by stearic acid. This enhancement is due to appearance of free charge carriers in CNTs at the complexification. We found out that similar surface-enhanced Raman scattering phenomenon takes place in a propidium iodide mo no molecular layer on CNT-bundle arrays which are deposited on nanoporous anodic alumina coated by ultrathin metal-containing conducting Langmuir-Blodgett film. A method of two-dimensional systems visualization based on the CNT-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has been proposed. This method has been applied for visualization of focal adhesion sites on cellular membranes.