Nanoprobes for intracellular and single cell surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising and powerful label free technique for high resolution analysis of single cells. For intracellular analysis, there is a need for SERS‐active nanoprobes that are minimally invasive to cells, do not affect cell viability, and provide reproducible signals. This work reviews the state‐of‐the‐art tools currently available for intracellular SERS. Various types of SERS probes are considered, including colloidal gold and silver nanoparticles, metallized optical fibers, and tip‐enhanced Raman probes. We also discuss recently developed SERS‐active nanopipettes implemented on the basis of pulled glass microcapillaries. Finally, the critical aspects of selecting an optimal SERS nanoprobe for single‐cell analysis depending on a particular application are summarized. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.