Recent developments in optofluidic-assisted Raman spectroscopy

This paper reviews and compares the different optofluidic techniques for enhancing the retrieved Raman signal in liquids with a focus on aqueous solutions. Recent progress in characterizing different nanostructures and biological molecules utilizing optofluidic fibers such as photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) in Raman spectroscopy are discussed. Techniques and applications to combine surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with optofluidic-assisted Raman spectroscopy are further reviewed. Finally, challenges and future opportunities to advance Raman spectroscopy combined with optofluidics are presented. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.