New Approach for the Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS) Detection of Dopamine at Picomolar (pM) Levels in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid

Abstract

The development of a novel surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) platform that allows fast and sensitive detection of dopamine (DA) has been reported. The iron-nitrilotriacetic acid attached silver nanoparticle (Ag-Fe(NTA)) substrate provides remarkable sensitivity and reliable repeatability. The advantages of both the surface functionalization for specific analytes and the SERRS are integrated into a single functional unit. While the silver core gives the necessary enhancing properties, the Fe-NTA receptors can trap DA adjacent the silver core and the NTA-Fe-DA complex formed provides resonance enhancement with a 632.8 nm laser. DA could be detected in pM level without any pretreatment with a reliable discrimination against AA, by utilizing low laser power (10 mW) and short data acquisition time (10 s). The high sensitivity along with the improved selectivity of this sensing approach is a significant step toward molecular diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.