The author thanks Prof. Y. Ozaki (Kwansei Gakuin University) and Dr. T. Itoh (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) for their fruitful discussion of this work. This work was supported by KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research C) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (No. 16K05671).

1. Sample Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of silver colloidal nanoparticles20
	<ol>
		<li>To fabricate silver colloidal nanoparticles, dissolve 0.030 g of silver nitrate and 0.030 g of trisodium citrate dihydrate in 150 mL of water in a 200-mL round bottom flask.</li>
		<li>Combine the flask with a reflux (Dimroth) condenser.</li>
		<li>Stir the solution in the flask with a magnetic stirrer and stir bar. Then, heat the stirring solution in the flask in an oil bath at 150 &#176;C for 60 min. 
		NOTE: The solution will turn yellow, then milky grey.</li>
		<li>Cool the suspension at room temperature, and keep the suspension in the flask covered with aluminum foil in a refrigerator. 
		NOTE: The protocol can be paused at this point. Use the colloidal nanoparticles, after storing in a refrigerator, within one month.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of sample for multi-colored blinking emission11
	<ol>
		<li>To ready a microscope slide, wash a glass plate with soap by hand and rinse it with water.</li>
		<li>Add 0.1% poly-L-lysine aqueous solution to the glass plate, and remove the solution with a blower.</li>
		<li>Add the silver colloidal suspension to the glass plate, and remove the suspension with a blower.</li>
		<li>Enclose a drop area on the glass plate with a liquid blocker pen.</li>
		<li>Drop distilled water on the glass plate, and cover it with another glass plate to create a microscope slide and prevent water from evaporating.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Preparation of sample for monotonous colored blinking SERS7,8,9,10
	<ol>
		<li>To ready a microscope slide, wash a glass plate with soap by hand and rinse it with water.</li>
		<li>Mix the silver colloidal suspension with thiacyanine or thiacarbocyanine dye (25 or 4 &#181;M, respectively) and a NaCl (10 mM) aqueous solution at a volume ratio of 2:1:1.</li>
		<li>Drop the sample suspension onto the glass plate, and remove the suspension with a blower.</li>
		<li>Enclose a drop area on the glass plate with a liquid blocker pen.</li>
		<li>Drop an aqueous solution of NaCl (1 M) on the glass plate to immobilize the silver nanoparticles, and cover it with another glass plate to create a microscope slide plate and prevent the solution from evaporating.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Observation of Blinking Silver Nanoparticles
<ol>
	<li>Illumination of sample
	<ol>
		<li>Place the sample glass plate prepared using protocol 1.2 or 1.3 on the stage of an inverted microscope.</li>
		<li>Illuminate the sample glass plate using white light through a dark field condenser, and focus on various colored spots (blue, green, yellow, and red) on the glass plate using an objective lens (60X).</li>
		<li>Illuminate the sample glass plate using an attenuated beam, delivered at an angle of 30&#176; relative to the sample surface, from a diode pumped solid state (DPSS) continuous-wave (cw) laser through an interference filter.</li>
		<li>To use laser illumination to observe the silver nanoaggregates as monotonous colored spots in a same-colored surrounding, move the laser illumination area to the center of the view, and focus on the spots on the glass plate by adjusting the stage in the z-direction.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Observation of blinking
	<ol>
		<li>Insert a long-pass filter after the objective lens, and illuminate the sample glass plate using a DPSS cw-laser beam delivered at an angle of 30&#176; relative to the sample surface through an interference filter.</li>
		<li>Find the blinking spots as shown in Figure 1 (see also Figure S1 in the supplementary material) by moving the stage in the x- and y-directions.</li>
		<li>Record video of the blinking spots with the inverted microscope, coupled to a cooled digital charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, which has a time resolution of 61 - 120 ms, for 20 min.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Analysis of Blinking SERS
<ol>
	<li>Derivation of time profile from video
	<ol>
		<li>In the software that controls the CCD camera, open the video file.</li>
		<li>To select the blinking spots and dark area, drag areas that separately cover regions with and without spots in the video image.</li>
		<li>To derive signal intensity time profiles from the blinking spots and dark areas in the video, select Temporal Analysis in Analysis, and click the Calculate in the Temporal Analysis window.</li>
		<li>Save the data as a text file.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Analysis of the time profile
	<ol>
		<li>Flatten a baseline of the time profile by subtracting the time profile from the dark area and/or fitting with a polynomial function, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B.</li>
		<li>Evaluate an averaged baseline intensity that consists of approximately 2000 points, Ibase, and a standard deviation of baseline intensities, &#963;,&#160;as shown in Figures 2C and 2D.</li>
		<li>Distinguish bright events from dark events using larger intensities than a threshold of Ibase + 3&#963;,&#160;and record the duration of each event. In Figure 3, for example, record the event from 0 to 3.5476 s as the dark event (with a duration of t = 3.5476 s), and record the event from 3.5476 to 4.0981 s as the bright event (with a duration of t = 0.5505 s). Repeat procedure as shown in Table 1.</li>
		<li>Count the number of bright and dark events for each duration, as expressed in the first and second lines of Table 2.</li>
		<li>Sum the number of events for each duration, except for events shorter than duration t. As expressed in the second and third lines of Table 2, for example, sum the number of events for each duration (except for the events for t = 0.0612 s) as 41 + 18 + 9 + &#8230;; the result equals the summation for t = 0.1223 s, i.e. 103.</li>
		<li>Divide the summations by each duration, and normalize them. As expressed in Table 2, for example, divide the summation for duration t = 0.0612 s by the duration 0.0612 s. The result is 3,351.5791. Then, divide the result by the total of the results in the fourth line in Table 2. The probability distribution is derived to be 0.64494.</li>
		<li>Plot the probability distributions for the bright events Pon(t) against their duration t in a logarithm-logarithm graph, and fit Log10Pon(t) by Log10(<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/56729/56729eq1.jpg" />) to deduce the power law exponent &#945;on for a specific blinking spot. If Pon(t) is fitted by <img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/56729/56729eq1.jpg" />, the fitted line deviates from the plots at small values of Pon(t), as shown by the dotted line in Figure 4A.</li>
		<li>Plot the probability distributions for dark events Poff(t) against their duration t in a logarithm-logarithm graph, and fit Log10Poff(t) by Log10(<img alt="Equation 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/56729/56729eq3.jpg" /> to deduce the power law exponent &#945;off and the truncation time &#964;&#160;from the same blinking spot.&#160;If Poff(t) is fitted by <img alt="Equation 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/56729/56729eq3.jpg" />, the fitted curve deviates from the plots at small values of Poff(t).</li>
		<li>Repeat 3.2.1 to 3.2.8 for the other blinking spots in the video.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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The author has nothing to disclose.

From the silver nanoaggregate junction, SERS is emitted. Thus, we need to prepare nanoaggregates rather than colloidal nanoparticles, which are covered with citrate anions. Silver aggregates are formed from the salting out effect created by the addition of poly-L-lysine, which has -NH3+ and is the origin of the SERS, or Na+ cations from NaCl, as shown in Figure S2 of the supplementary material. Moreover, to illuminate the many spots in the wide area, the unfocused laser b...

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is highly sensitive Raman spectroscopy from a noble metal surface. Since the Raman spectrum provides detailed information about molecular structure based on the sharp peak positions, through the vibrational modes of functional groups in the molecules, the information of a single molecule on a metal surface can be investigated using SERS1,2,3. From a silver nanoaggregate with an adsorbate at the single-molecule level, a blinking signal is observed1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16, and the spectrum fluctuates1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14. Blinking can be induced by a single molecule that randomly moves in and out of an enhanced electromagnetic (EM) field at a nanometer-sized silver nanoaggregate junction. Therefore, blinking is considered simple evidence for single-molecule detection, compared with a technique using a Poisson distribution of SERS intensities and a bi-analyte2,3,17. However, the detailed mechanisms of the blinking and fluctuating spectrum, which may strongly depend on molecular behavior on the Ag surface, are still controversial.
In previous studies, blinking SERS has been analyzed using the autocorrelation function, which can calculate the diffusion coefficient and concentration of molecules moving in and out of an enhanced EM field12,13,14. Moreover, a normalized standard deviation score, which represents instability in the total intensity, has been derived from the time profile of the signal15. However, these analytic approaches may be based on the behavior of a few molecules. In contrast, in a super-resolution imaging of blinking SERS, single-molecule behavior in an enhanced EM field can be identified16. However, these techniques can obtain such parameters only in an enhanced EM field. The random behavior of a single molecule within a wide range (for instance, in blinking SERS) can be represented as a power law rather than an average4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, similar to blinking fluorescence from a single semiconductor quantum dot (QD)18,19. By using a power law analysis4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, molecular behavior can be estimated in both the bright state (in the enhanced EM field) and dark state10; that is, the behavior of the molecule over the entire silver surface can be estimated.
For this technique, silver colloidal nanoaggregates are used4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. These nanoaggregates show various localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) bands that strongly affect enhanced electromagnetic fields when they are excited at certain wavelengths. Thus, SERS-active silver nanoparticles exist in colloidal suspension, and some data can immediately be obtained. In the case of simple nanostructures, which have specific sizes, shapes, and arrangements, the LSPR dependence of SERS blinking can conceal other dependences7; namely, if the good or bad nanostructure to LSPR is used, the parameters will be constant, and the other dependences will therefore be hidden. Power law analysis has been used to discover various dependences of the blinking SERS from silver colloidal nanoaggregates4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:639px;" width="638">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Silver nitrate, 99.8%</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">194-00832</td>
			<td style="width:211px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:227px;">Trisodium citrate dihydrate, 99. %</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">191-01785</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:227px;">Poly-L-lysine aqueous solution, 0.1%</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">P8920</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="116">
			<td height="116" style="height:116px;width:227px;">3,3&#39;-disulfopropylthiacyanine triethylamine</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NK-2703</td>
			<td>a kind of thiacyanine dyes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="116">
			<td height="116" style="height:116px;width:227px;">3,3&#39;-diethyl-5,5&#39;-dichloro-9-methylthiacarbocyanine iodine salt</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SMP-9</td>
			<td>a kind of thiacarobocyanine dyes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Sodium chloride, 99.5%</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">191-01665</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Dimroth condenser</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Iwaki</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">61-9722-22</td>
			<td>perchased from AS ONE</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Magnetic stirrer</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Corning</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DC-420D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Oil bath</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Advantech</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">OS-220</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Glass plate</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Matsunami</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S-1112</td>
			<td>Microscope slide</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Blower</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Hozan</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Z-288</td>
			<td>Air duster</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="116">
			<td height="116" style="height:116px;width:227px;">Liquid blocker pen</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Daido Sangyo</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:211px;">LIQUID BLOCKER (Super Pap Pen). Ready-to-use hydrophobic barrier pen designed for immunohistochemistry applications</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Inverted microscope</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">IX-70</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Objective lens</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">LCPlanFl 60&#215;</td>
			<td>NA 0.7</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Dark field condenser</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">U-DCD</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">NA 0.8&#8211;0.92</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:227px;">Cooled digital CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Hamamatsu</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ORCA-AG</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">controlled by software Aqua Cosmos</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="59">
			<td height="59" style="height:59px;width:227px;">Software for the cooled digital CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Hamamatsu</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AquaCosmos</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">used for also derivation of the time-profiles from the blinking spots in the video&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Color CCD camera</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">ELMO</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">TNC-C920</td>
			<td>not used for analysis</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="59">
			<td height="59" style="height:59px;width:227px;">DPSS laser</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">RGB laser system</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">NovaPro532-75</td>
			<td style="width:211px;">&#955; = 532 nm; 
			60 mW (corresponds to a power density of 600 W/cm2)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Interference filter</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Semrock</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">LL01-532-12.5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:227px;">Long pass filter</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">Semrock</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BLP01-532R-25</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="59">
			<td height="59" style="height:59px;width:227px;">Software for the distinguishment and counting of the bright/dark events</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">home-maid</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>programmed by C++</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="40">
			<td height="40" style="height:40px;width:227px;">Software for the fitting by a power law</td>
			<td style="width:83px;">LightStone</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Origin6.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

observation and analysis of blinking surface-enhanced raman scattering

From a single molecule at a silver nanoaggregate junction, blinking surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is observed. Here, a protocol is presented on how to prepare the SERS-active silver nanoaggregate, record a video of certain blinking spots in the microscopic image, and analyze the blinking statistics. In this analysis, a power law reproduces the probability distributions for bright events relative to their duration. The probability distributions for dark events are fitted by a power law with an exponential function. The parameters of the power law represent molecular behavior in both bright and dark states. The random walk model and the speed of the molecule across the entire silver surface can be estimated. It is difficult to estimate even when using averages, autocorrelation functions, and super-resolution SERS imaging. In the future, power law analyses should be combined with spectral imaging, because the origins of blinking cannot be confirmed by this analysis method alone.

From the silver nanoaggregates with poly-L-lysine prepared by protocol 1.2, multicolored blinking spots from SERS and surface-enhanced fluorescence are observed, as shown in Figure 111. In contrast, monotonous colored blinking spots from SERS were observed for the silver nanoaggregates with the dye molecules prepared by protocol 1.37,8,9,...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Observation and Analysis of Blinking Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering at JoVE.com

Observation and Analysis of Blinking Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering

This protocol describes the analysis of blinking surface-enhanced Raman scattering due to the random walk of a single molecule on a silver surface using power laws.

From a single molecule at a silver nanoaggregate junction, blinking surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is observed. Here, a protocol is presented on ...

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7.3K Views.  Kwansei Gakuin University. This protocol describes the analysis of blinking surface-enhanced Raman scattering due to the random walk of a single molecule on a silver surface using power laws.

Video: Observation and Analysis of Blinking Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering

A Filter-based Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Assay for Rapid Detection of Chemical Contaminants

We demonstrate a method to fabricate highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) substrates using a filter syringe system that can be applied to the detection of various chemical contaminants. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are synthesized via reduction of silver nitrate by sodium citrate. Then the NPs are aggregated by sodium chloride to form nanoclusters that could be trapped in the pores of the filter membrane. A syringe is connected to the filter holder, with a filter membrane inside. By loading the nanoclusters into the syringe and passing through the membrane, the liquid goes through the membrane but not the nanoclusters, forming a SERS-active membrane. When testing the analyte, the liquid sample is loaded into the syringe and flowed through the Ag NPs coated membrane. The analyte binds and concentrates on the Ag NPs coated membrane. Then the membrane is detached from the filter holder, air dried and measured by a Raman instrument. Here we present the study of the volume effect of Ag NPs and sample on the detection sensitivity as well as the detection of 10 ppb ferbam and 1 ppm ampicillin using the developed assay.

A procedure for fabrication and performing the filter-based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) assay for the detection of chemical contaminants (i.e., pesticide ferbam and antibiotic ampicillin) is presented.

We demonstrate a method to fabricate highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) substrates using a filter syringe system that can be ...

Preparation of Biopolymer Aerogels Using Green Solvents

Although the first reports on aerogels made by Kistler1 in the 1930s dealt with aerogels from both inorganic oxides (silica and others) and biopolymers (gelatin, agar, cellulose), only recently have biomasses been recognized as an abundant source of chemically diverse macromolecules for functional aerogel materials. Biopolymer aerogels (pectin, alginate, chitosan, cellulose, etc.) exhibit both specific inheritable functions of starting biopolymers and distinctive features of aerogels (80-99% porosity and specific surface up to 800 m2/g). This synergy of properties makes biopolymer aerogels promising candidates for a wide gamut of applications such as thermal insulation, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems, functional foods, catalysts, adsorbents and sensors. This work demonstrates the use of pressurized carbon dioxide (5 MPa) for the ionic cross linking of amidated pectin into hydrogels. Initially a biopolymer/salt dispersion is prepared in water. Under pressurized CO2 conditions, the pH of the biopolymer solution is lowered to 3 which releases the crosslinking cations from the salt to bind with the biopolymer yielding hydrogels. Solvent exchange to ethanol and further supercritical CO2 drying (10 - 12 MPa) yield aerogels. Obtained aerogels are ultra-porous with low density (as low as 0.02 g/cm3), high specific surface area (350 - 500 m2/g) and pore volume (3 - 7 cm3/g for pore sizes less than 150 nm).

A new way for the production of biopolymer-based aerogels by carbon dioxide (CO2) induced gelation is shown. The technique utilizes pressurized carbon dioxide (5 MPa) for the production of biopolymer hydrogels and supercritical CO2 (12 MPa) to convert gels into aerogels. The only solvents needed besides CO2 are water and ethanol.

Although the first reports on aerogels made by Kistler1 in the 1930s dealt with aerogels from both inorganic oxides (silica and others) and biopolymers ...

Measurement of Particle Size Distribution in Turbid Solutions by Dynamic Light Scattering Microscopy

A protocol for measuring polydispersity of concentrated polymer solutions using dynamic light scattering is described. Dynamic light scattering is a technique used to measure the size distribution of polymer solutions or colloidal particles. Although this technique is widely used for the assessment of polymer solutions, it is difficult to measure the particle size in concentrated solutions due to the multiple scattering effect or strong light absorption. Therefore, the concentrated solutions should be diluted before measurement. Implementation of the confocal optical component in a dynamic light scattering microscope1 helps to overcome this barrier. Using such a microscopic system, both transparent and turbid systems can be analyzed under the same experimental setup without a dilution. As a representative example, a size distribution measurement of a temperature-responsive polymer solution was performed. The sizes of the polymer chains in an aqueous solution were several tens of nanometers at a temperature below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In contrast, the sizes increased to more than 1.0 &#181;m when above the LCST. This result is consistent with the observation that the solution turned turbid above the LCST.

A protocol for the direct measurement of particle size distribution in concentrated solutions using dynamic light scattering microscopy is presented.

A protocol for measuring polydispersity of concentrated polymer solutions using dynamic light scattering is described. Dynamic light scattering is a ...

A Novel Technique for Raman Analysis of Highly Radioactive Samples Using Any Standard Micro-Raman Spectrometer

A novel approach for the Raman measurement of nuclear materials is reported in this paper. It consists of the enclosure of the radioactive sample in a tight capsule that isolates the material from the atmosphere. The capsule can optionally be filled with a chosen gas pressurized up to 20 bars. The micro-Raman measurement is performed through an optical-grade quartz window. This technique permits accurate Raman measurements with no need for the spectrometer to be enclosed in an alpha-tight containment. It therefore allows the use of all options of the Raman spectrometer, like multi-wavelength laser excitation, different polarizations, and single or triple spectrometer modes. Some examples of measurements are shown and discussed. First, some spectral features of a highly radioactive americium oxide sample (AmO2) are presented. Then, we report the Raman spectra of neptunium oxide (NpO2) samples, the interpretation of which is greatly improved by employing three different excitation wavelengths, 17O doping, and a triple mode configuration to measure the anti-stokes Raman lines. This last feature also allows the estimation of the sample surface temperature. Finally, data that were measured on a sample from Chernobyl lava, where phases are identified by Raman mapping, are shown.

We present a technique for Raman spectroscopic analysis of highly radioactive samples compatible with any standard micro-Raman spectrometer, without any radioactive contamination of the instrument. We also show some applications using actinide compounds and irradiated fuel materials.

A novel approach for the Raman measurement of nuclear materials is reported in this paper. It consists of the enclosure of the radioactive sample in a ...

Raman and IR Spectroelectrochemical Methods as Tools to Analyze Conjugated Organic Compounds

In the presented work, two spectroelectrochemical techniques are discussed as tools for the analysis of the structural changes occurring in the molecule on the vibrational level of energy. Raman and IR spectroelectrochemistry can be used for advanced characterization of the structural changes in the organic electroactive compounds. Here, the step-by-step analysis by means of Raman and IR spectroelectrochemistry is shown. Raman and IR spectroelectrochemical techniques provide complementary information about structural changes occurring during an electrochemical process, i.e. allows for the investigation of redox processes and their products. The examples of IR and Raman spectroelectrochemical analysis are presented, in which the products of the redox reactions, both in solution and solid state, are identified.

A protocol of step-by-step Raman and IR spectroelectrochemical analysis is presented.

In the presented work, two spectroelectrochemical techniques are discussed as tools for the analysis of the structural changes occurring in the molecule ...

DNA-magnetic Particle Binding Analysis by Dynamic and Electrophoretic Light Scattering

Isolation of DNA using magnetic particles is a field of high importance in biotechnology and molecular biology research. This protocol describes the evaluation of DNA-magnetic particles binding via dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS). Analysis by DLS provides valuable information on the physicochemical properties of particles including particle size, polydispersity, and zeta potential. The latter describes the surface charge of the particle which plays major role in electrostatic binding of materials such as DNA. Here, a comparative analysis exploits three chemical modifications of nanoparticles and microparticles and their effects on DNA binding and elution. Chemical modifications by branched polyethylenimine, tetraethyl orthosilicate and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane are investigated. Since DNA exhibits a negative charge, it is expected that zeta potential of particle surface will decrease upon binding of DNA. Forming of clusters should also affect particle size. In order to investigate the efficiency of these particles in isolation and elution of DNA, the particles are mixed with DNA in low pH (~6), high ionic strength and dehydration environment. Particles are washed on magnet and then DNA is eluted by Tris-HCl buffer (pH = 8). DNA copy number is estimated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Zeta potential, particle size, polydispersity and quantitative PCR data are evaluated and compared. DLS is an insightful and supporting method of analysis that adds a new perspective to the process of screening of particles for DNA isolation.

This protocol describes the synthesis of magnetic particles and evaluation of their DNA-binding properties via dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. This method focuses on monitoring changes in particle size, their polydispersity and zeta potential of particle surface which play major role in binding of materials such as DNA.

Isolation of DNA using magnetic particles is a field of high importance in biotechnology and molecular biology research. This protocol describes the ...

Resolving Water, Proteins, and Lipids from In Vivo Confocal Raman Spectra of Stratum Corneum through a Chemometric Approach

Development of this in vivo confocal Raman spectroscopic method enables the direct measurement of water, proteins, and lipids with depth resolution in human subjects. This information is very important for skin-related diseases and characterizing skin care product performance. This protocol illustrates a method for confocal Raman spectra collection and the subsequent analysis of the spectral dataset leveraging chemometrics. The goal of this method is to establish a standard protocol for data collection and provide general guidance for data analysis. Preprocessing (e.g., removal of outlier spectra) is a critical step when processing large datasets from clinical studies. As an example, we provide guidance based on prior knowledge of a dataset to identify the types of outliers and develop specific strategies to remove them. A principal component analysis is performed, and the loading spectra are compared with spectra from reference materials to select the number of components used in the final multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis. This approach is successful for extracting meaningful information from a large spectral dataset.

Here, we present a protocol for collection of confocal Raman spectra from human subjects in clinical studies combined with chemometric approaches for spectral outlier removal and the subsequent extraction of key features.

Development of this in vivo confocal Raman spectroscopic method enables the direct measurement of water, proteins, and lipids with depth resolution in ...

Application of Voltage in Dynamic Light Scattering Particle Size Analysis

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a common method for characterizing the size distribution of polymers, proteins, and other nano- and microparticles. Modern instrumentation permits measurement of particle size as a function of time and/or temperature, but currently there is no simple method for performing DLS particle size distribution measurements in the presence of applied voltage. The ability to perform such measurements would be useful in the development of electroactive, stimuli-responsive polymers for applications such as sensing, soft robotics, and energy storage. Here, a technique using applied voltage coupled with DLS and a temperature ramp to observe changes in aggregation and particle size in thermoresponsive polymers with and without electroactive monomers is presented. The changes in aggregation behavior observed in these experiments were only possible through the combined application of voltage and temperature control. To obtain these results, a potentiostat was connected to a modified cuvette in order to apply voltage to a solution. Changes in polymer particle size were monitored using DLS in the presence of constant voltage. Simultaneously, current data were produced, which could be compared with particle size data, to understand the relationship between current and particle behavior. The polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) served as a test polymer for this technique, as pNIPAM's response to temperature is well-studied. Changes in the lower-critical solution temperature (LCST) aggregation behavior of pNIPAM and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly(ferrocenylmethyl methacrylate), an electrochemically active block-copolymer, in the presence of applied voltage are observed. Understanding the mechanisms behind such changes will be important when trying to achieve reversible polymer structures in the presence of applied voltage.

Here, a protocol to apply voltage to solution during dynamic light scattering particle size measurements with the intent to explore the effect of voltage and temperature changes on polymer aggregation is presented.

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a common method for characterizing the size distribution of polymers, proteins, and other nano- and microparticles. ...

Ultrafast Time-resolved Near-IR Stimulated Raman Measurements of Functional &#960;-conjugate Systems

Femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy is a promising method of observing the structural dynamics of short-lived transients with near infrared (near-IR) transitions, because it can overcome the low sensitivity of spontaneous Raman spectrometers in the near-IR region. Here, we describe technical details of a femtosecond time-resolved near-IR multiplex stimulated Raman spectrometer that we have recently developed. A description of signal generation and optimization, measurement, data acquisition, and calibration and correction of recorded data is provided as well. We present an application of our spectrometer to analyze the excited-state dynamics of &#946;-carotene in toluene solution. A C=C stretch band of &#946;-carotene in the second lowest excited singlet (S2) state and the lowest excited singlet (S1) state is clearly observed in the recorded time-resolved stimulated Raman spectra. The femtosecond time-resolved near-IR stimulated Raman spectrometer is applicable to the structural dynamics of &#960;-conjugate systems from simple molecules to complex materials.

Details of signal generation and optimization, measurement, data acquisition, and data handling for a femtosecond time-resolved near-IR stimulated Raman spectrometer are described. A near infrared stimulated Raman study on the excited-state dynamics of &#946;-carotene in toluene is shown as a representative application.

Femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy is a promising method of observing the structural dynamics of short-lived transients with near ...

Preparation of Nanoparticles for ToF-SIMS and XPS Analysis

Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, and their potential to enable advanced materials. To effectively understand and regulate the physico-chemical properties and potential adverse effects of nanoparticles, validated measurement procedures for the various properties of nanoparticles need to be developed. While procedures for measuring nanoparticle size and size distribution are already established, standardized methods for analysis of their surface chemistry are not yet in place, although the influence of the surface chemistry on nanoparticle properties is undisputed. In particular, storage and preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis strongly influences the analytical results from various methods, and in order to obtain consistent results, sample preparation must be both optimized and standardized. In this contribution, we present, in detail, some standard procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analytics. In principle, nanoparticles can be deposited on a suitable substrate from suspension or as a powder. Silicon (Si) wafers are commonly used as substrate, however, their cleaning is critical to the process. For sample preparation from suspension, we will discuss drop-casting and spin-coating, where not only the cleanliness of the substrate and purity of the suspension but also its concentration play important roles for the success of the preparation methodology. For nanoparticles with sensitive ligand shells or coatings, deposition as powders is more suitable, although this method requires particular care in fixing the sample.

A number of different procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analysis are presented (drop casting, spin coating, deposition from powders, and cryofixation). We discuss the challenges, opportunities, and possible applications of each method, particularly regarding the changes in the surface properties caused by the different preparation methods.

Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, ...