SERS Nano-tagging Particle Silica Core Silver Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting biomolecules, such as those using radioactive isotopes, organic fluorescent dyes, and quantum dots, face challenges including radiation safety, high costs, limited availability, and inefficiencies in detection speed and sensitivity, particularly in handling and analyzing biomolecules within biological systems.
Innovation Solution
Surface enhanced Raman scattering nano-tagging particles are developed, comprising a silica core with immobilized silver nanoparticles and a silica shell, allowing for the attachment of Raman tagging materials like 4-methylbenzenethiol, which enhances Raman spectroscopy signals and facilitates rapid and sensitive detection of biomolecules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radioactive isotopes are used for biomolecule detection, then detection sensitivity is improved, but radiation safety issues and handling difficulty arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces long-lived radioactive isotopes with short-lived fluorescent dyes that can be easily degraded and eliminated from the body. The fluorescent tags used in the nanoparticle system have limited persistence, reducing radiation safety concerns while maintaining detection sensitivity through fluorescence imaging.
2Ease of operation
If organic fluorescent dyes are used for biomolecule detection, then ease of operation is improved, but fluorescence intensity decreases over time due to photobleaching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite nanoparticle structure combining silica core, fluorescent dye molecules, and protective shell materials. This composite design protects the fluorescent dyes from photobleaching while maintaining their ease of operation and optical properties, extending the duration of fluorescence signal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If quantum dots are used for biomolecule detection, then the number of detectable colors is increased, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal silica nanoparticle platform that can accommodate multiple different fluorescent dyes with varying emission wavelengths. This single platform design provides multi-color detection capability without requiring separate manufacturing processes for each wavelength, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Measurement precision
If DNA is used as tagging material in surface enhanced Raman scattering method, then detection sensitivity is improved, but modification difficulty and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of DNA (specific binding to target biomolecules) and implements it through simpler antibody or aptamer molecules attached to the nanoparticle surface. This eliminates the complex DNA modification steps while preserving detection sensitivity through specific molecular recognition.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These nano-tagging particles enable high-speed, sensitive, and economical detection of biomolecules, with the silica shell protecting the silver nanoparticles and Raman tagging materials, allowing for simultaneous analysis of multiple biomolecules without signal overlap, and demonstrating effective application in detecting cancer markers and other biomarkers.
Implementation Method 1
a surface enhanced Raman scattering nano-tagging particle including: a silica core particle onto which silver nanoparticles are introduced, wherein tagging materials and a silica shell precursor are immobilized on the surface of silver nanoparticles
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method for manufacturing a surface enhanced Raman scattering nano-tagging particle, the method including the steps of: introducing silver nanoparticles on the surface of a silica core particle; immobilizing tagging materials and silica shell precursors on the silver nanoparticles; and forming a silica shell surrounding the silica core particle to which the tagging materials and the silica shell precursor are immobilized.