Raman Scattering Helps Ensure Safety of Stem Cell Therapies

A research team at Rutgers University has developed a biosensor technology that could benefit applications for the treatment of neurological disorders through stem cell therapy. The hybrid biosensing platform consists of an array of ultrathin graphene layers and gold nanostructures. This platform has been combined with Raman spectroscopy to detect genes and characterize different kinds of stem cells with greater reliability, selectivity, and sensitivity.

Because stem cells can become many different types of cells, stem cell therapy shows promise for regenerative treatment of neurological disorders in which diseased cells require replacement or repair. However, a way to characterize stem cells and control their fate is needed.

This biosensing platform consists of an array of ultrathin graphene layers and gold nanostructures. The platform, combined with Raman spectroscopy, detects genetic material and characterizes different kinds of stem cells with greater reliability, selectivity and sensitivity than today’s biosensors. Courtesy of Letao Yang, KiBum Lee, Jin-Ho Lee, and Sy-Tsong (Dean) Chueng. Rutgers University.

This biosensing platform consists of an array of ultrathin graphene layers and gold nanostructures. Combined with Raman spectroscopy, it detects genetic material and characterizes different kinds of stem cells with greater reliability, selectivity, and sensitivity. Courtesy of Letao Yang, KiBum Lee, Jin-Ho Lee, and Sy-Tsong (Dean) Chueng.

The new biosensor monitors the fate of stem cells by detecting genetic material (RNA) involved in turning stem cells into neurons. The graphene-coated plasmonic metal nanoarrays that are used for the sensing platform synergize both electromagnetic mechanism (EM)- and chemical mechanism (CM)-based enhancements. The plasmonic nanostructures make it possible to obtain a highly reproducible enhancement of Raman signals via a strong, uniform EM. Simultaneously, the graphene-functionalized surface of the platform amplifies the Raman signals by an optimized CM, increasing the sensitivity and accuracy of the system.

Using the dual-enhanced Raman scattering from both EM (from the nanoarray) and CM (from the graphene surface), the researchers detected and quantified a specific biomarker’s (TuJ1) gene expression levels to characterize neuronal differentiation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs).

“A critical challenge is ensuring high sensitivity and accuracy in detecting biomarkers — indicators such as modified genes or proteins — within the complex stem cell microenvironment,” professor KiBum Lee said. “Our technology, which took four years to develop, has demonstrated great potential for analyzing a variety of interactions in stem cells.”

The Rutgers-led team’s biosensor technology could help lead to safe stem cell therapies for treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and other neurological disorders.

The research was published in Nano Letters (www.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03402).

There are 208 suppliers of Light Sources in the Photonics Marketplace.

Published: November 2019

Glossary

graphene: Graphene is a two-dimensional allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern. It is the basic building block of other carbon-based materials such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes (e.g., buckyballs). Graphene has garnered significant attention due to its remarkable properties, making it one of the most studied materials in the field of nanotechnology. Key properties of graphene include: Two-dimensional structure:...
plasmonics: Plasmonics is a field of science and technology that focuses on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free electrons in a metal or semiconductor at the nanoscale. Specifically, plasmonics deals with the collective oscillations of these free electrons, known as surface plasmons, which can confine and manipulate light on the nanometer scale. Surface plasmons are formed when incident photons couple with the conduction electrons at the interface between a metal or semiconductor...
raman spectroscopy: Raman spectroscopy is a technique used in analytical chemistry and physics to study vibrational, rotational, and other low-frequency modes in a system. Named after the Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman who discovered the phenomenon in 1928, Raman spectroscopy provides information about molecular vibrations by measuring the inelastic scattering of monochromatic light. Here is a breakdown of the process: Incident light: A monochromatic (single wavelength) light, usually from a laser, is...
surface-enhanced raman scattering: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a powerful analytical technique that enhances the Raman scattering signal of molecules adsorbed on or near certain nanostructured surfaces. Raman scattering is a process in which light interacts with molecular vibrations, providing a fingerprint-like spectrum that can be used to identify and characterize chemical compounds. SERS significantly amplifies the Raman signal, making it more sensitive and allowing for the detection of molecules at very low...
nano: An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.

Browse Cameras & Imaging, Lasers, Optical Components, Test & Measurement, and more.