About This Webinar
Raman spectroscopy provides label-free molecular characterization by detecting chemical bond vibrations, enabling direct visualization of molecular responses in living cells and tissues. Despite significant advancements, the clinical translation of Raman spectroscopy has been hindered by two key challenges: limited detection sensitivity and insufficient specificity. For instance, it has not found use in imaging enzyme activity, a significant aspect of biomedical research.
Leveraging nature-inspired self-assembly strategies, intracellular bioorthogonal enzyme-responsive nanoprobes (nanoSABER) have been developed. Engineered from enzyme-responsive peptides, these nanoprobes assemble into supramolecular structures with distinct Raman-active vibrational signatures upon interaction with targeted enzymes. Incorporating vibrational tags such as alkyne (C≡C) and nitrile (C≡N) groups within the cell-silent Raman window (1800 to 2600 cm−¹), nanoSABER specifically images enzyme activity with minimal interference from endogenous cellular signals. Using legumain, a tumor-associated enzyme, we demonstrated nanoSABER’s exceptional ability to distinguish legumain-overexpressing DU145 prostate cancer cells from legumain-deficient LNCaP cells at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Building further on biomimetic approaches, we employed DNA origami to precisely assemble plasmonic nanostructures, creating reproducible hotspots for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This integration dramatically enhances signal intensity, opening new avenues for highly sensitive and specific Raman-based bioimaging in cancer diagnostics.
Who should attend:
Those who work in research and development, bioengineering, test and measurement, and medical. Those who work with optics, spectroscopy, biophotonics, cancer, and nanophotonics.
About the presenter:
Swati Tanwar, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in Materials Science from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali, India, in August 2020. Tanwar's doctoral research centered on designing and fabricating advanced optical nanomaterials through DNA nanotechnology, enabling single-molecule spectroscopic analyses. In September 2020, Tanwar joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University as a postdoctoral scholar. Her research now focuses on developing innovative optical molecular imaging probes for cancer detection, evaluation, and treatment. By integrating principles of nanotechnology, optics, and biomedical engineering, she aims to create targeted imaging tools that accurately identify tumor biomarkers, facilitate precision therapies, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Tanwar actively collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to translate nanomaterials into clinically relevant solutions. Beyond her research endeavors, she mentors young minds by teaching courses such as optical spectroscopy for biomedical applications, where she shares her expertise in cutting-edge nano- and biophotonics technologies.