1. SERS Biosensor for Endocrine Disruption Biomarker: Vitellogenin
Sachin Kumar Srivastava
Mentor: Prof. Ibrahim Abdulhalim
Department of Electro-optic Engineering, &
Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel

2. Outline
Introduction
Raman-/Surface Enhanced Raman- Spectroscopy (SERS)
Biosensor
Endocrine Disruption Compounds
Nano-Sculptured Thin Films (n-STFs): Optimization of performance
Fabrication : Steps involved in developing the sensor
Results: Sensing and other characterizations
Summary

3. Raman Spectroscopy Indian Physicist: C. V. RAMAN
"A small fraction of sunlight passing through a transparent medium is scattered in all directions, with a different wavelength than the incident radiation. These shifts depend upon the chemical structure of the molecules.“ "A new radiation", Indian J. Phys.,2(1928)387.
Nobel prize in Physics : 1930
Rayleigh Scattering
Raman Scattering
Lowest Electronic State
Virtual levels
Anti-Stokes
Stokes
Rayleigh Scattering:
Elastic
Raman Scattering:
Inelastic v3 v2 v1 v0
1 in 107 photons is scattered inelastically
Ground State

4. Steps of Raman development
‘Fingerprint’ of molecular bonds and crystalline structure
Very low cross-section: Applications in real life are hindered
Steps of Raman development
• Laser applications – Dramatically improved power of excitation and Raman signal
• SERS effect – Enhanced intensities up to factors of 108-9
• Raman microscope – Decreased probe volume (light spot diameter below 1 μm)
What is SERS?
Large local field enhancement on rough metallic surfaces due to plasmonic and charge transfer enhancement mechanisms
Plasmonic Nanostructures
Incident light
Enhanced Raman Scattering
Adsorbed molecules
SERS Substrate
Nanosculptured Thin Films (nSTFs)

5. Biosensor Sensor Bio-sensor
A device having the role of converting a change in one physical parameter into a change in magnitude of a second different parameter which can be measured more conveniently and perhaps more accurately.
Bio-sensor
A biosensor is a self-contained integrated device that is capable of providing specific quantitative or semi-quantative analytical information using a biological recognition element which is in direct soatial contact with a transduction element (IUPAC, 1996)
Any device that uses specific biochemical reactions to detect chemical compounds in biological samples.

6. Components of a Biosensor
/ Optical
Detector
Molecule imprinted gel matrix
Chemical interaction
SPR/SERS etc

7. Basic Characteristics of a Biosensor
nm1<nm2
Wavelength
SENSITIVITY: Response per unit analyte numerical value.
DETECTION ACCURACY: How accurate the measurement is?
LIMIT OF DETECTION: What is the minimum numerical value
of the parameter which can be sensed?
SELECTIVITY: Interference from other factors must be
minimized for obtaining correct results
5. RESPONSE TIME: Time necessary for having about 95% of the response.
6. REUSABILITY: Can the sensor be used again and again?
SHELF LIFE: What happens to the performance when kept for long time
SENSING VOLUME: Volume of analyte required for sensing
RANGE OF OPERATION: What is the working range of the sensor

8. Endocrine System General Functions of Hormones
Bond 1979, Biology of Fishes

9. Endocrine Disruptors Suspected Endocrine Disruptors Metals
(Pb, As, Hg, Ni, Cd)
Suspected Endocrine Disruptors
Industrial Chemicals
(Bisphenol A)
Synthetic and Natural Hormones
(Phytoestrogens)
Pharmaceutical Drugs
(Corticosteroids)
Pesticides, Herbicides etc.
(DDT )
Personal Care Products
(Phthalates, Benzaldehyde)
Growth inhibition
Diabetes
Vg : Egg yolk protein in aquatic females, excreted during sex
Elevated amounts: A sign of estrogenic contamination of aquatic environment.
Representative of a kind of
pollution in water/aquatic species

10. nSTF Fabrication
GLAD Technique
SEM Images
(20, 30, 40, 60 % porosity)

11. Optimization of Performance
SERS from 4-Aminothiophenol (4-ATP) adsorbed at the n-STF
Highest SERS signal due to plasmons coupling
Mutual interaction between the EM fields of the localized surface plasmons (LSPs) at the neighbouring nanorods
Effective electromagnetic field of the LSPs in the voids
Field in voids decreases with increase in porosity
The number of adsorbed molecules increases, however.
Trade off between the enhancement due to rods and voids
Maximum 30% porosity

12. Sensor Chip Development

13. Experimental Setup Sensor Chip From Laser To Spectrometer SERS Probe
Extended view of SERS Probe
Anti-Vg Antibody
Vitellogenin
BSA
Sensor Chip

14. Comparison of SERS Spectra@ Sensor vs 4-ATP
Small range effect (~ 2-3 nm)
Negligible effect of further added molecules
Dieringer and van Duyne et al., Faradey Discuss., 2006, 132, 9-26

15. Sensor Response for Varying Vg Concentration

16. Control Experiments Reusability and Repeatability
Confirmation for the specificity of the sensor to vitellogenin.
Another similar protein called Fetuin was used for study.
Reusability and Repeatability
A number of sensor chips were prepared and experiments were performed
over a period of three months at different days, times and ambient conditions
The sensor surface was regenerated by immersing in 50mM glycine buffer for
2 minutes in between two sensing events.
Each chip was used at least three times for full sample concentration range to
ensure the repeatability and reusability.

17. Sensor Response Curve

18. Summary
A highly sensitive, fast Vg sensor chip utilizing SERS has been fabricated
SERS can be used for sensing of bigger molecules in non-direct mode of sensing
Vitellogenin concentrations as small as 5pg/ml can be detected
The sensor is specific to Vg only.
The repeatability, reusability and shelf life of the sensor are reasonably good
For more detailed discussion of the presented results, please see
SERS Biosensor Using Metallic Nano-Sculptured Thin Films for the Detection of Endocrine Disrupting Compound Biomarker Vitellogenin, SMALL (Wiley), DOI:  /smll

19. Other Contributors/Co-authors
Dr. Atef Shalabney,
Laboratoire des Nanostructures, ISIS - Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires,Université de Strasbourg, 8 allée Gaspard Monge Strasbourg, Cedex
Dr. Isam Khalaila,
The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva-84105, Israel
Dr. Christoph Grüner and Prof. Bernd Rauschenbach
Leibniz Institute of Surface Modification, Permoserstrasse 15, Leipzig and University Leipzig, Institute for Experimental Physics II, Linnéstr.5, Leipzig, Germany
Prof. Ibrahim Abdulhalim
Department of Electro optic Engineering and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Sciences and Technology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel &
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, , Singapore

20. Thank You Acknowledgements
Council of Higher Education of the Government of the State of Israel for PBC post-doctoral fellowship
Singapore National Research Foundation (CREATE programme)
German Excellence Initiative of the Deutsche Forschungs Gemeinschaft (DFG).
Thank You

24. Dipole moment in a molecule
α0 - molecule equilibrium polarizability
E0 - maximum electric field
ν0 & ν - excitation and vibrational frequency, respectively
rmax - maximum vibrational amplitude
’Modulation’ of linear optical polarizabiliy due to presence of internal vibrations
Intensity
Values at
~ 1500 cm-1
I(l) >> IS >> IaS
1 >> >> 10-9

25. Mechanism of Enhancement in SERS
Electromagnetic Mechanism
Chemical Mechanism
Electromagnetic Mechanism
Induced dipole moment in a molecule
The molecular polarizability increases due to the formation of charge transfer (CT) metal-molecule complex. The CT band is in resonance with both the incident and scattered light.
The local electric field experienced by the adsorbed molecule increases due to excitation of localized surface plasmons by both the incident and scattered photons
Enhancement Contribution:
Enhancement Contribution:
SERS depends on the local field to the fourth power ( ) in the vicinity of
an adsorbate molecule.
It is a small range effect (~ 2-3 nm).

26. Endocrine System Endocrine Disruptors Possible Factors
Endocrine system is an ensemble of glands which secrete different types of hormones directly into the blood stream to maintain homeostasis. The endocrine system regulates many vital processes in a living organism, such as development, growth, reproduction and metabolism.
Endocrine Disruptors
Extrogeneous agents that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination of natural hormones in the body responsible for the maintenance of homeostasis and regulation of developmental processes
Possible Factors
Chemical /Industrial waste, Natural reasons/factors
Preservatives, processed food, unbalanced metabolism Pesticides, etc.
Detection of Vg is important to understand the estrogenic contamination of aquatic environment.
Representative of a kind of pollution in water/aquatic species