A versatile biomolecular detection platform based on photo-induced enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as one of the effective tools for sensitive and selective detection of biomolecules has attracted tremendous attention. Here, we construct a versatile biomolecular detection platform based on photo-induced enhanced Raman spectroscopy (PIERS) effect for ultrasensitive detection of multiple analytes. In our PIERS sensor, we exploit the molecular recognition capacity of aptamers and the high affinity of aptamers with analyte to trigger TiO2@AgNP substrates binding with Raman tag-labeled gold nanoparticles probes via analyte, thus forming sandwich complexes. Additionally, combining plasmonic nanoparticles with photo-activated substrates allows PIERS sensor to achieve increased sensitivity beyond the normal SERS effect upon ultraviolet irradiation. Accordingly, the PIERS can be implemented for analysis of multiple analytes by designing different analyte aptamers, and we further demonstrate that the constructed PIERS sensor can serve as a versatile detection platform for sensitively analyzing various biomolecules including small molecules (adenosine triphosphate (ATP), limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 nM), a biomarker (thrombin, LOD of 50 pM), and a drug (cocaine, LOD of 5 nM). Therefore, this versatile biomolecular detection platform based on PIERS effect for ultrasensitive detection of multiple analytes holds great promise to be a practical tool.