Raman Spectroscopy / Ezine
Sloshing charge: the origin of SERS
Date: May 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
New quantum calculations show how electrical charge can slosh from a target molecule to the metal being used to enhance Raman signals in Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The finding could finally explain the mechanism by which this technique boosts Raman spectra in terms of the chemical contribution to the effect.
Read More
Journal Highlight: Reliable and non-destructive Raman analysis to determine the urea concentration in a cream formulation
Date: Apr 4, 2011
Author:
A reliable and nondestructive analytical method for the determination of urea concentration in a pharmaceutical cream formulation using Raman spectroscopy gave accurate results despite the spectral collection being performed through plastic bottles.
Read More
Testing times for beta-carotene and relatives: Raman clues to cosmeceuticals
Date: Apr 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
While cosmetic manufacturers tend to avoid producing actual medical effects in skin for fear of their products being subsumed into the pharmaceutical regulatory process, there is a need to understand how so-called "cosmeceuticals" might affect the aging process in skin. Resonance Raman spectroscopy has now been used to study non-invasively the interaction of carotenoid antioxidants with free radicals in the skin.
Read More
Journal Highlight: Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of coal: a review
Date: Mar 7, 2011
Author:
Work published on the Raman characterization of the natural organic matter of coals has been reviewed and preliminary results of the natural inorganic matter of various South African coals were reported.
Read More
Rock and awe: Raman discredits microbial fossils
Date: Mar 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
The oldest fossils of bacteria ever found were discovered in a rock formation in Western Australia, the discovery led to great excitement that has not abated for two decades. Until now. Raman spectroscopy now shows that what palaeontologists thought were pristine microbial fossils may not be anything more complex than chunks of ancient Australian rock.
Read More
Golden pop: nanoparticles for SERS
Date: Feb 1, 2011
Author: David Bradley
Gold nanoparticles that resemble tiny popcorn kernels can be produced using a simple two-step process. Researchers at Jackson State University in the US have used these particles in SERS experiments to detect malignant prostate cancer at just the 50-cell level. The same particles can also be activated to kill the cells.
Read More
Journal Highlight: Femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy
Date: Jan 31, 2011
Author:
Advances in the field of femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy, a new time-resolved structural technique that provides complete vibrational spectra on the ultrafast timescale, are reviewed.
Read More
Fast-track walking pneumonia test: SERS speeds up diagnosis
Date: Jan 5, 2011
Author: David Bradley
A new approach to testing for a common form of pneumonia using nanoparticles to boost SERS signals can cut the time to diagnosis from several days to a mere ten minutes, according to research published in the journal Plos One.
Read More
Journal Highlight: Understanding tissue specific compositions of bioenergy feedstocks through hyperspectral Raman imaging
Date: Jan 3, 2011
Author:
Hyperspectral Raman imaging was used to study the tissue/cell type specific distribution of lignin and cellulose polymers within the plant cell walls of two potential bioenergy feedstocks: corn stover and Eucalyptus globulus.
Read More
Sensitising Raman: Forensic and diagnostic boost
Date: Dec 1, 2010
Author: David Bradley
The efforts of forensic investigators are often stymied by the diverse and complex nature of sample mixtures they must analyse but low analyte concentration is probably the most problematic issue they must address. Now, a US team has found a way to improve Raman spectroscopy for low-concentration analysis. Their approach could also improve medical diagnosis, drug/chemical development, and in national security.
Read More
