The Plasmon-Enhanced Nanosensor Design and Experimental Schemes for Biosensing and Bioimaging

Through the incorporation of nanosensors, on-site screening for disease biomarkers is now possible instead of relying exclusively on laboratory tests. As such, scientists and medical researchers are striving to detect these health markers with maximum speed, precision, and sensitivity. To detect molecules to extreme precision, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) powerfully takes advantage of nanostructured materials that enhance the process of Raman scattering. With the unprecedented level of sensitivity and selectivity, SERS presents multiple possibilities in catalysis, nanotechnology, biomedicine, food science, and environmental analysis. This chapter outlines the latest innovations in bottom-up design and preparation of SERS substrates on metal nanostructures for label and label-free detection to detect disease biomarkers. Recent advances in cancer diagnosis merging SERS with machine learning will also be highlighted alongside potential prospects and challenges.