Multiplexing Liquid Biopsy with Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectroscopy

Among the main challenges faced in cancer research, early detection, metastatic pathways and biomarker discovery are being tackled both by researchers and technology-based companies. The development of novel technologies that can advance the state-of-the-art for those defined challenges is critical in order to enhance the survival rates as well as to significantly lower cancer associated costs, not to mention social and human impact. In the recent years, the field of liquid biopsy has grown tremendously due to its capacity to obtain and study tumor material in a non-invasive way. Liquid biopsy arises as an alternative diagnostic tool based on the analysis of biomarkers present in body fluids. The characterization of those biomarkers is commonly made by already well-established standard technologies, usually limited in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, multiplexing, high-throughput, and/or speed of analysis. Unfortunately, highly sensitive molecular diagnostic technologies still have high associated costs preventing their universal application. In this review, the authors aim to provide the reader with a general comprehension on how surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy can overcome those bottlenecks. The combination of SERS and liquid biopsy may fulfill the holy grail of the so-called precision medicine, ultimately contributing to the dream of cancer chronification.

Automated summary

The main challenges in cancer research include early detection, metastatic pathways, and biomarker discovery. The field of liquid biopsy has grown tremendously due to its non-invasive nature in obtaining and studying tumor material. However, standard technologies for biomarker analysis are limited in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, multiplexing, high-throughput, and speed, while surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is seen as a technology that can overcome these limitations.