Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of pterins

Raman spectroscopy is a useful technique in the identification and characterisation of compounds, but in terms of sensitivity its application is limited. With respect to this the discovery of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) phenomenon has proved monumental, and much research has been carried out over the past 30 years developing the technique. Pterins are biological compounds that are found in nature in colour pigmentation and in mammalian metabolic pathways. Moreover, they have been identified in abnormal concentrations in cancer patients, suggesting potential applications in cancer diagnostics. SERS is an ideal technique to identify these compounds, and both nanoparticle suspensions and pulsed laser deposited nanoparticle substrates have been used to examine the spectra of xanthopterin, both in aqueous solution and in different pH environments.