Surface-enhanced Raman scattering microfluidic sensor

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a highly sensitive detection technique used to provide information about chemical and biological trace analytes. The confocal Raman microscope makes it possible to monitor small samples in a narrow microfluidic channel, despite the fact that the scattering intensity of the Raman signal is very weak. Recently, microfluidic chip devices coupled with on-chip SERS detection method and their applications to sensitive chemical and biological analyses have attracted significant attention. In this mini-review, highlights of advances in SERS techniques, microfluidic devices and their applications on the biological/environmental analysis of minute analytes within the recent years are provided to illustrate the impact of this rapidly growing area of research.