Chinese researchers in Hefei managed to realize high-performance detection of targets, which could be operated in even complex sample environment.

This technology was achieved by a surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) platform to realize selective detection of catecholamine in serum, according to YANG Liangbao's team with Institute of Intelligent Machines (IIM), Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, who led the study.

Neurotransmitters are of vital importance to both the central and peripheral nervous system for transmission of information. Catecholamine (CA) as a kind of important neurotransmitter, not only directly takes part in behavioral activities, but also relates to some functional diseases like disorder, Parkinson's disease and depression.

There is increasing demand to concern and monitor the level of CA in the human body fluids such as serum and urine due to the special pharmacological property and physiological function.

Consequently, developing the sensitive strategy for the study of CA in complex system is of great significance.

In this work, the three CA molecules spiked into serum sample can be determined and distinguished by using SERRS technique successfully.

Besides, researchers realized the quantitative measurement of CA molecules.

This work provides new way to develop novel SERRS platform to realize repeatable, sensitive, and selective detection of targets in various complex fields, such as urine and tissue fluid.

Furthermore, the strategy of quantitative detection is of great significance for monitoring the level of CA in the human body fluids, which gives guidance for the diagnosis and prevention of some functional disease

This work was supported by the National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for Significant New Drugs Development, National Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.

Schematic representation of the SERRS detection of catecholamine. (Image by CAO Xiaomin)