Abstract: A method of imaging living tissue is provided. The method includes introducing a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer into living tissue; and obtaining an image of the living tissue by photoacoustic imaging. Use of a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer in photoacoustic imaging is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) particle comprising the step of encapsulating a plurality of Raman molecules on the surface of a metallic core with a biocompatible protective shell at an elevated temperature selected to decrease the encapsulation time by more than one-fold relative to an encapsulation performed at 20° C.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method for detecting an analyte using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method comprises (a) contacting one or more analyte-binding molecules with the analyte under conditions that allow binding of the analyte to the one or more analyte-binding molecules to form a first mixture, wherein the analyte is preferably haptogloblin and the analyte-binding molecule may comprise haemoglobin or is a haptogloblin antibody, (b) contacting a liquid reagent comprising a peroxidase substrate and a peroxide source with the first mixture to form a second mixture, while maintaining pH of the second mixture at 10 or less, (c) quenching the second mixture to form a third mixture, (d) optionally contacting the third mixture with a SERS-active substrate, and (e) detecting a surface enhanced Raman signal from the third mixture and/or a surface of the SERS-active substrate.

Abstract: A method for assessing a state of a living cell using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method m ay include modifying one or more living eel Is with an alkyne-containing compound to form one or more modified living cells, mixing the one or more modified living cells with a SERS-active material to form a mixture, injecting the mixture into a conduitdefined by an innerwall of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber, and detecting a surface enhanced Raman signal from the mixture in the conduit. In preferred embodiments, the alkyne containing compound is linoleamide alkyne (LLA) for the detection of lipid peroxidation or 4-(dihydroxyborophenyl) acetylene (DBA) for the detection of sialic acid expression in cells, both using gold nanoparticles as the SERS-active material.

Abstract: An optical sensing device is provided, including a first polarizer, a second polarizer, wherein the first polarizer and the second polarizer have respective transmission axes aligned in orthogonal directions, an SPR sensor arrangement including an SPR sensing surface, the SPR sensor arrangement arranged to receive an incident light beam passed through a polarizer to be reflected at the SPR sensing surface and transmitted through a second polarizer to provide a transmitted light beam, a detector arrangement configured to detect the transmitted light beam, the transmitted light beam including a sensing signal and a reference signal, and a processor electrically coupled to the detector arrangement, the processor configured to perform a subtraction operation between the sensing signal and the reference signal. The optical sensing is based on a differential measurement scheme. The subtraction between the sensing signal and the reference signal cancels the common path noise and enhances the sensor resolution.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more analytes comprising or consisting of hydrogen peroxide using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method includes providing a SERS-active substrate having at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound attached thereon; contacting one or more analytes with the SERS-active substrate; and detecting changes in surface enhanced Raman signal from the at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound as an indication of the presence of one or more analytes comprising or consisting of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A method of imaging living tissue is provided. The method includes introducing a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer into living tissue; and obtaining an image of the living tissue by photoacoustic imaging. Use of a photoacoustic contrast agent comprising or consisting of a photosensitizer in photoacoustic imaging is also provided.

Abstract: An optical sensing device is provided, including a first polariser, a second polariser, wherein the first polariser and the second polariser have respective transmission axes aligned in orthogonal directions, an SPR sensor arrangement including an SPR sensing surface, the SPR sensor arrangement arranged to receive an incident light beam passed through a polariser to be reflected at the SPR sensing surface and transmitted through a second polariser to provide a transmitted light beam, a detector arrangement configured to detect the transmitted light beam, the transmitted light beam including a sensing signal and a reference signal, and a processor electrically coupled to the detector arrangement, the processor configured to perform a subtraction operation between the sensing signal and the reference signal. The optical sensing is based on a differential measurement scheme. The subtraction between the sensing signal and the reference signal cancels the common path noise and enhances the sensor resolution.

Abstract: A photoacoustic imaging contrast agent comprising a biodegradable polymer backbone grafted with a photoacoustic contrast agent is provided. A method of preparing a photoacoustic imaging contrast agent, and a method of imaging living tissue are also provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting one or more analytes comprising or consisting of hydrogen peroxide using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is provided. The method includes providing a SERS-active substrate having at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound attached thereon; contacting one or more analytes with the SERS-active substrate; and detecting changes in surface enhanced Raman signal from the at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound as an indication of the presence of one or more analytes comprising or consisting of hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: A photoacoustic imaging contrast agent composition is provided. The composition comprises a metal carbonyl cluster compound having the general formula (I) M3(CO)xL12-x wherein M at each occurrence denotes a metal selected from Group 6 to Group 11 of the Periodic Table of Elements; x is an integer from 10 to 12; and each L is independently selected from the group consisting of —H and -A-(CH2)n—COO?Y+, wherein A is selected from the group consisting of S, O, C and N; n is an integer from 1 to 10; and Y is any cation. Use of the photoacoustic imaging contrast agent composition in photoacoustic imaging is also provided.

Abstract: Method of detecting one or more analytes having a thiol functional group is provided. The method includes contacting one or more analytes with at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound; and detecting changes in optical properties of the at least one metal carbonyl cluster compound as an indication of the presence of the one or more analytes having a thiol functional group.

Abstract: A compound of structural formula (I): The values and alternative values are as defined herein. The invention also includes biosensors comprising nanoparticles functionalized with a compound of structural formula (I). Also described is a method for labeling a biomolecule using a compound of structural formula (I) and a method of detecting a target biomolecule using a compound of structural formula (I) or a biosensor of the invention.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) marker conjugate is provided. The SERS marker conjugate comprises a metallic nanoparticle and an organometallic material attached to a surface of the metallic nanoparticle. A biosensor comprising a plurality of the SERS marker conjugates and a method of forming the SERS marker conjugate is also provided.

Abstract: A compound for detecting an analyte using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and a method of forming the compound is provided. The compound has Formula I: wherein W is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted aryl group and an optionally substituted heteroaryl group; each Y independently is NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-C6 alkyl, or R1 and R2 combine to form together with the nitrogen to which they are attached a heterocyclic group with 4 to 5 carbon atoms, is used to denote a single or a double bond, and Z is NH, NH2, NH—(C?O)—(CH2)n—SH, wherein n=1 to 10, or or a tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, or a salt thereof. A method and device for detecting an analyte using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nanoparticle loaded with a light sensitive molecule and a method of preparing the nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle is a colloidal gold nanoparticle and the light sensitive molecule is non-covalently adsorbed to the surface of the nanoparticle. The present invention is also directed to a nanoprobe comprising the nanoparticle and further comprising a targeting moiety covalently coupled to the surface of the nanoparticle. Additionally, the present invention is directed to an imaging method comprising administering the nanoprobe to a subject and collecting imaging data of the subject or part of the subject with optical multimodality imaging. A method of treating cancer in a subject comprising administering the nanoprobe and performing photodynamic therapy on the subject is further disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a substrate for optical sensing by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). The substrate comprises a support, a first layer consisting of a plurality of metal nanoparticles attached to the surface of the support, and a second layer consisting of a plurality of metal nanoparticles attached to the surface of the metal nanoparticles of the first layer, wherein the mean diameter of the metal nanoparticles of the first layer is greater than the mean diameter of the metal nanoparticles of the second layer. Various embodiments also refer to methods for forming the substrate. In a further aspect, various embodiments refer to a biosensor comprising the inventive substrate for the detection of an analyte in a sample by SERS, a method for the detection of an analyte in a sample by SERS using the biosensor, and use of the biosensor in SERS detection methods.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) particle comprising the step of encapsulating a plurality of Raman molecules on the surface of a metallic core with a biocompatible protective shell at an elevated temperature selected to decrease the encapsulation time by more than one-fold relative to an encapsulation performed at 20° C.

Abstract: A method for sensing, a photonic crystal fiber, a method for fabricating a photonic crystal fiber sensor, and a Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) sensing apparatus. The method for sensing comprises the steps of providing a photonic crystal fiber comprising a hollow core and a plurality of cladding holes around the hollow core; providing Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) active nanoparticles; and adapting the SERS active nanoparticles and/or the fiber for SERS sensing.

Abstract: A compound for detecting an analyte using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and a method of forming the compound is provided. The compound has Formula I: wherein W is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted aryl group and an optionally substituted heteroaryl group; each Y independently is NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-C6 alkyl, or R1 and R2 combine to form together with the nitrogen to which they are attached a heterocyclic group with 4 to 5 carbon atoms, is used to denote a single or a double bond, and Z is NH, NH2, NH—(C?O)—(CH2)n—SH, wherein n=1 to 10, or or a tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, or a salt thereof. A method and device for detecting an analyte using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is also provided.