SORS and SESORS Biomedical Applications

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) and surface-enhanced spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SESORS) represent an exciting evolution in the realm of analytical chemistry and molecular spectroscopy. Its ability to probe subsurface layers in both SORS and SESORS, while also enhancing Raman signals using plasmonic SERS nanostructures in SESORS, makes them a versatile tool. As researchers address the challenges and refine the technique, both techniques are poised to contribute significantly to our understanding of complex materials, environmental monitoring, and advancements in healthcare technology. They enable non-invasive depth profiling in biological tissues which has found immense importance for investigating skin, bone, and organ tissues, aiding in disease diagnosis, drug delivery studies, and tissue characterization. Till date, SORS and SESORS have made enormous progress in achieving cancer margin analysis, bone health determination, proof-of-concept studies into monitoring of neurotransmitters, and exploring non-invasive SESORS cancer diagnosis by tracking the SERS agents through more than 7 cm of protein-rich tissue. Advances in optics, nanostructures, and instrumentation are driving vital breakthroughs and innovation in SORS and SESORS biomedical applications. This chapter delves into the discovery, classification, and biomedical applications of SORS and SESORS, discussing their limitations and future potential in biomedical research.