Mixed-dimensional heterostructure-based SERS can be used for tracking of cancer-derived exosomes from breast cancer

Raman spectroscopy has capability for fingerprint molecular identification with high sensitivity if weak Raman scattering signal can be enhanced by several orders of magnitudes. Jackson State University researchers report a heterostructure-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform using 2D graphene oxide (GO) and 0D plasmonic gold nanostar (GNS), with capability of Raman enhancement factor (EF) in the range of ∼10¹⁰ via light–matter and matter–matter interactions. The current manuscript reveals huge Raman enhancement for heterostructure materials occurring via both electromagnetic enhancement mechanism though plasmonic GNS nanoparticle (EF ∼10⁷) and chemical enhancement mechanism through 2D-GO material (EF ∼10²). Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation data and experimental investigation indicate that GNS allows light to be concentrated into nanoscale “hotspots” formed on the heterostructure surface, which significantly enhanced Raman efficiency via a plasmon–exciton light coupling process. Notably, the researchers have shown that mixed-dimensional heterostructure-based SERS can be used for tracking of cancer-derived exosomes from triple-negative breast cancer and HER2(+) breast cancer with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.8 × 10² exosomes/mL for TNBC-derived exosomes and 4.4 × 10² exosomes/mL for HER2(+) breast cancer-derived exosomes.

Mixed-Dimensional Heterostructure Synthesized Using a Three-Step Process

(A) Synthetic path has been used for the development of (polyethylene glycol) PEG-coated GNS from tetrachloro Au (III), in the presence HEPES buffer. (B) Synthetic path used for the development of graphene oxide from graphite. (C) Synthetic procedure used to develop mixed dimensional heterostructures from PEG-coated GNS and GO.