Surface-Roughened SERS-Active Single Silver Nanowire for Simultaneous Detection of Intracellular and Extracellular pHs

The simultaneous and accurate detection of intracellular pH (pHi) and extracellular pH (pHe) is essential for studying the complex physiological activities of cancer cells and exploring pH-related therapeutic mechanisms. Here, we developed a super-long silver nanowire-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection strategy for simultaneous sensing of pHi and pHe. A surface-roughened silver nanowire (AgNW) with a high aspect ratio is prepared at a nanoelectrode tip using a Cu-mediated oxidation process, which is then modified by pH-sensitive 4mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) to form 4-MBA@AgNW as a pH sensing probe. With the assistance of a 4D microcontroller, 4-MBA@AgNW is efficient in simultaneously detecting pHi and pHe in both 2D and 3D culture cancer cells by SERS, with minimal invasiveness, high sensitivity, and spatial resolution. Further investigation proves that the surface roughened single AgNW can also be used in monitoring the dynamic variation of pHi and pHe of cancer cells upon stimulation with anticancer drugs or under a hypoxic environment.

Automated summary

We have developed a super-long silver nanowire-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection strategy for simultaneous sensing of intracellular pH (pHi) and extracellular pH (pHe). This method is efficient, minimally invasive, and provides high sensitivity and spatial resolution.