Changes in the relative protein concentrations in serum have been shown to be diagnostic of diseases, including cancer. In general, the level of serum albumin proteins provides patterns in capillary electrophoresis separations that are correlated to disease. In these experiments, a capillary electrophoresis separation is performed and migration peaks are recorded based on their absorbance. While this provides useful information, additional molecular characterization may provide new insight into disease. The chemical specific nature and high–sensitivity of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has tremendous promise for biomedical diagnostics. Our laboratory has developed a sheath-flow interface for SERS detection online with capillary electrophoresis separations. In studies on serum, we observe signals characteristic of proteins that are distinct from rapid transient signals associated with other biomolecules. While this provides interesting data from serum, correlations to previous studies remain challenging. We are incorporating serial detection combining absorbance and SERS on the same sample to facilitate correlations. Additionally we are developing statistically robust and objective data analysis techniques to identify and characterize the signals observed. Our goal is correlate changes in serum albumin levels with other chemical changes that may be associated with disease.

Online SERS characterization of serum

255th National Meeting (2018)

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