Hollow core photonic crystal fiber-assisted Raman spectroscopy as a tool for the detection of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers

Pinkie J. Eravuchira*, Martina Banchelli, Cristiano D'Andrea, Marella De Angelis, Paolo Matteini, Israel Gannot

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Significance: Alzheimers disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive disorder that damages brain cells and impairs the cognitive abilities of the affected. Developing a sensitive and cost-effective method to detect Alzheimers biomarkers appears vital in both a diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. Aim: Our goal is to develop a sensitive and reliable tool for detection of amyloid β (1-42) peptide (Aβ42), a major AD biomarker, using fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FERS). Approach: A hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) was integrated with a conventional Raman spectroscopic setup to perform FERS measurements. FERS was then coupled with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to further amplify the Raman signal thanks to a combined FERS-SERS assay. Results: A minimum 20-fold enhancement of the Raman signal of Aβ42 as compared to a conventional Raman spectroscopy scheme was observed using the HCPCF-based light delivery system. The signal was further boosted by decorating the fiber core with gold bipyramids generating an additional SERS effect, resulting in an overall 200 times amplification. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the use of an HCPCF-based platform can provide sharp and intense Raman signals of Aβ42, in turn paving the way toward the development of a sensitive label-free detection tool for early diagnosis of AD.

Original languageEnglish
Article number077001
Pages (from-to)077001-1-077001-10
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2020

Funding

FundersFunder number
Israeli Ministry of Health, University and Research of Italy
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme723770
Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della RicercaID221, 00370311000

    Keywords

    • Alzheimers
    • amyloid β-peptide
    • fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
    • liquid biopsy
    • surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

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