Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering Technology Based on WO3 Film for Detection of VEGF

With the advancement of nanomaterials for surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) detection, a deeper understanding of the chemical mechanism(CM) and further applications has been achieved. Herein, we prepared a porous tungsten trioxide(WO3) film by the pulse electrodeposition method, and constructed a WO3 film SERS aptasensor. With methylene blue(MB) as the adsorption molecule, the developed WO3 film SERS aptasensor revealed remarkable Raman activity. Through experimental data and theoretical calculations, we found that the significant SERS enhancement[enhancement factor(EF)=1.5x10(6)] was due to the CM based on charge transfer and molecular resonance. Utilizing the Raman response of MB on the WO3 film and specific aptamers, we successfully developed the aptamer sensor by covalently attaching the MB modified aptamer to the WO3 film. The sensor realized the specific and sensitive determination of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) with the detection limit down to 8.7 pg/mL. In addition, the developed aptasensor indicated the excellent selectivity among other interferences, such as metal ions, reactive oxygen species(ROS), and proteins. This WO3 film SERS aptasensor not only contributed to the study of the enhancement mechanism of semiconductor material, but also provided a powerful platform for the sensitive detection of VEGF, possessing a great potential in the real-time monitoring of biomarkers of glioblastoma in vitro.

Automated summary

The development of a WO3 film SERS aptasensor allowed for sensitive detection of VEGF, demonstrating excellent selectivity and a low detection limit, while also providing a powerful platform for studying the enhancement mechanism of semiconductor materials.