Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has the potential to enable new point-of-need measurements for use in healthcare, forensics, homeland security and food safety due to its superior sensitivity and wide applicability. In this Laser Focus World interview by Peter Fretty, we talk about our partnership with Nikalyte Ltd. to explore and expand the problems that could potentially be solved through Raman spectroscopy. The partnership involves the use of Wasatch Photonics Raman spectroscopy systems to evaluate and test a novel nanoparticle SERS substrate developed by Nikalyte, and collaboration to improve both.
Nikalyte’s substrate removes barriers that previously limited widespread adoption of SERS, and the technique they use to make nanomaterials enhances Raman signals. The SERS substrates are free of contamination and thus improve sensitivity and specificity – and are affordable for scalability. Being able to detect the nanoparticles and having the right low-cost instruments to give reproducible answers, the technology can be applied in numerous ways. At Wasatch Photonics, we work continuously to improve the sensitivity of our Raman spectrometers, as well as other enabling capabilities of Raman. The Nikalyte substrate, however, further improves sensitivity to trace detection levels with high reproducibility, making it Raman applicable in a wider range of real-world applications.
COVID-19 has generated interest in SERS testing again because of its ability to provide specificity for certain proteins and chemicals. The opportunity to use SERS testing for point-of-care life science applications has great potential. We hope that by working together with Nikalyte, we can help to bring point-of-care biological measurements with Raman and SERS to life.
Read the full article Point-of-need sensors get a boost from hybrid SERS partnership | Laser Focus World
Learn more about the products used by Nikalyte Ltd:
June 26, 2022
