Abstract
While surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy has traditionally been employed as an in vitro analytical tool, in the past few years the first reports of the feasibility of in vivo imaging of cancer with biocompatible SERS probes have emerged. SERS imaging has great potential in the field of medical imaging because it offers several major theoretical advantages over other molecular imaging methods. Medical imaging using SERS nanoprobes can yield higher sensitivity and higher signal specificity than other imaging modalities while also offering multiplexing capabilities that allow for unique applications. This review article explains the principles of SERS and highlights recent advances for in vivo cancer imaging. In order to present the abilities of the method as accurate as possible, the discussion is limited to studies in which the imaging data were confirmed by histological correlation.
- Copyright © 2015 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.