Overview of Raman Spectroscopy: Fundamental to Applications
171
4.5 Biological Applications
As non-invasive, fast, and inexpensive methods for obtaining information on the
content of biological samples, Raman spectroscopic techniques have recently gained
growing clinical importance. We must be able to evaluate regenerative processes in
cells, tissues, organs, and patients at a biochemical level to ensure that work is
transferable from bench to bedside. Raman technique gives the analyte’s vibrational
frequency, which can be viewed as their “fingerprint” allowing for easy analysis and
identification. During the past few years, Raman spectroscopy, has undergone significant technological advances, as resolved by issues such as fluorescence, low sensitivity, or reproducibility. Raman spectroscopy has tremendous biological applications
such as bio-molecules recognition [218–227], cancer [228–231], immunology [232],
microorganism detection [233], cell therapy [234], live-cell studies [235], diabetes
[236], virus capture and recognition [237–240]. This section discusses the specific
use of this technique in the study of recognition of bio-molecules, cancer, diabetes
and viruses.
4.5.1 Raman Spectroscopy of Biomolecules
Biomolecules are basic building blocks of life and core of all processes of
life, involved in conducting important metabolic reactions and preserving living
organism’s overall biochemistry. Therefore, it is important to understand separately
the structure and properties of different biomolecules. Raman spectroscopy is very
helpful in the study of the various biomolecules such as protein [219, 220, 241],
nucleic acids [221, 223], lipids [225], carbohydrates [242], etc. Most of the characteristic bands are associated with the group CONH, called amide B (NH stretching,
about 3100 cm
−1 ), amide A (NH stretching, about 3500 cm
−1 ), and Amide I–VII
[219]. Most recently, the globular protein was studied by Raman spectroscopy, and
it was predicted that hyper Raman may be the new tool to investigate the proteins as
well as of biomolecules and more complicated biological structures with the 532-nm
excitation [243]. Molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are essential to all living
organisms-even to plants. It’s essential for life and its processes for an inheritance,
protein-coding, and the genetic instruction guide. DNA contains instructions [244,
245] for the creation and reproduction of an organism or growing cell, and eventually death. Recently, Raman spectroscopy was used in the identification of DNA
G-quadruplex (G4) formation and the distinction of different G4-folding topologies
[246]. A lot of recent studies are still published recently using Raman spectroscopy
to identify and study various biomolecules [247, 248].
171
4.5 Biological Applications
As non-invasive, fast, and inexpensive methods for obtaining information on the
content of biological samples, Raman spectroscopic techniques have recently gained
growing clinical importance. We must be able to evaluate regenerative processes in
cells, tissues, organs, and patients at a biochemical level to ensure that work is
transferable from bench to bedside. Raman technique gives the analyte’s vibrational
frequency, which can be viewed as their “fingerprint” allowing for easy analysis and
identification. During the past few years, Raman spectroscopy, has undergone significant technological advances, as resolved by issues such as fluorescence, low sensitivity, or reproducibility. Raman spectroscopy has tremendous biological applications
such as bio-molecules recognition [218–227], cancer [228–231], immunology [232],
microorganism detection [233], cell therapy [234], live-cell studies [235], diabetes
[236], virus capture and recognition [237–240]. This section discusses the specific
use of this technique in the study of recognition of bio-molecules, cancer, diabetes
and viruses.
4.5.1 Raman Spectroscopy of Biomolecules
Biomolecules are basic building blocks of life and core of all processes of
life, involved in conducting important metabolic reactions and preserving living
organism’s overall biochemistry. Therefore, it is important to understand separately
the structure and properties of different biomolecules. Raman spectroscopy is very
helpful in the study of the various biomolecules such as protein [219, 220, 241],
nucleic acids [221, 223], lipids [225], carbohydrates [242], etc. Most of the characteristic bands are associated with the group CONH, called amide B (NH stretching,
about 3100 cm
−1 ), amide A (NH stretching, about 3500 cm
−1 ), and Amide I–VII
[219]. Most recently, the globular protein was studied by Raman spectroscopy, and
it was predicted that hyper Raman may be the new tool to investigate the proteins as
well as of biomolecules and more complicated biological structures with the 532-nm
excitation [243]. Molecules of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are essential to all living
organisms-even to plants. It’s essential for life and its processes for an inheritance,
protein-coding, and the genetic instruction guide. DNA contains instructions [244,
245] for the creation and reproduction of an organism or growing cell, and eventually death. Recently, Raman spectroscopy was used in the identification of DNA
G-quadruplex (G4) formation and the distinction of different G4-folding topologies
[246]. A lot of recent studies are still published recently using Raman spectroscopy
to identify and study various biomolecules [247, 248].