Rapid Synthesis of Nanoscale Reporter Tags Offers Promising Alternative to Fluorescent Labeling

Visualizing the complex internal cellular processes within our bodies requires the use of photostable, optically active probes that can be tracked with special microscopy instruments. One technique, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), uses nanoscale tags that maintain emission intensity upon exposure to ultraviolet light-an advantage over conventional fluorescent probes.

Now, a team led by Young-Tae Chang from the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium of A*STAR has developed a new approach to generate a library of dyes that can form SERS ‘nanotags’ upon binding with metal nanoparticle colloids1.

The SERS technique enhances the vibrational intensity of photoactive dyes known as Raman reporters when they are near gold or silver nanoparticles. Triphenylmethine (TM) dyes, such as crystal violet (CV), have proved useful as Raman reporters under illumination within the visible–near infrared region. Since there is a growing need for additional Raman reporters, Chang and his co-workers undertook a systematic study to synthesize and screen TM dyes using a combinatorial technique commonly applied in drug discovery.

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