Label-Free Raman Mapping of Surface Distribution of Protein A and IgG Biomolecules

We have demonstrated a nanoengineered substrate composed of micropatterned silver nanoparticles to be used for the label-free mapping of adsorbed biomolecules. We utilized surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) phenomenon to monitor the known bioanalytes, protein A and human immunoglobulin G (IgG). The SERS substrate was composed of a poly(alylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) layer-by-layer (LbL) nanocoating micropatterned with silver nanoparticles confined to microscopic stripes. Selective adsorption of biomacromolecules is facilitated by the amine-terminated LbL nanocoating, which prevents the surface adsorption of positively charged protein A across the surface except on the patterned regions containing negatively charged silver nanoparticles. Furthermore, adsorption of IgG on predetermined regions is facilitated by the selective binding of the Pc region of IgG to protein A. This label free SERS approach provides accurate, selective, and fast detection of protein A and IgG solutions with a nanomolar concentration, down to below 1 nM for IgG in solution. This method could also be utilized for the facile detection of proteins in field conditions as well as in clinical, forensic, industrial, and environmental laboratories.