News

Porous carbon nanowire array for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (Nature Communications, September 2020)

Our substrates were the best among tested commercially available substrates in the detection of β-lactoglobulin.

Keywords: porous carbon nanowire array, porous carbon, nanowire array, enhancement factor, rotavirus RNA, SERS, Paper-based SERS, Silver clusters, DFT, Experimental analysis, theoretical modelling, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research
Can we make SERS substrate from DVD-disc? Yes we can!

They used DVD-based SERS substrate for rotavirus RNA detection. SESRSitive substrates were also successfully used for viral RNA detection. Read whole paper!

Keywords: blu-ray DVD, drop-casting, enhancement factor, rotavirus RNA, SERS, Paper-based SERS, Silver clusters, DFT, Experimental analysis, theoretical modelling, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research,
SERS of Epinephrine: A computational and experimental study

Epinephrine is a naturally occurring Catecholamine neurotransmitter, playing a key role in the fight-or-flight response in the body. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is regarded as an ideal detection technique due to its specificity and sensitivity. Here, we report the experimental SERS detection of Epinephrine solution down to 10 µM using a simple, inexpensive A4-paper-based substrate coated with silver nanoparticles. We also perform Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of the Epinephrine molecule in the presence of small silver clusters Agn (n = 1-4) to understand the chemical interactions between the molecule and the clusters. It is observed that there are two different minima for the Epinephrine-Ag4 complexes; one of these shows an increase in the calculated Raman activity, and the other shows an increase in the stability, with increasing number of atoms in the silver cluster. These observations are further investigated and explained through the calculation of the interaction energies, reactivity parameters, electrostatic properties and Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis.

Keywords: SERS; Epinephrine; Paper-based SERS; Silver clusters; DFT; SERSitive
Toward SERS-based dynamic detection of insulin diffusing through hydrogel matrices

Transplantation of the immunoprotected pancreatic islets in microspheres made of non-covalently crosslinked hydrogels is promising therapy in the type 1 diabetes mellitus. The work investigates the possibility of monitoring the diffusion process of insulin molecules through alginate-based hydrogel matrices

Keywords: Insulin, alginate-based hydrogel matrices, Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
We are  Inspiration for others. The National Centre for Research and Development appreciated our company. Read more about our success.

Development of a commercial method to produce SERS substrates for ultra-sensitive and quick biomedical analysis.

SERSitive has now an official Distributor in the USA and Mexico!

We have a piece of great news for all our (current and future) customers from the USA and Mexico:
SERSitive has just started the first business cooperation based on distribution with Amerigo Scientific from the life science industry!

 

From now on, Amerigo Scientific (https://www.amerigoscientific.com/) is our official Distributor in the USA and Mexico!

 

Do not hesitate to contact Amerigo and order our products!

 

We are convinced that our cooperation will be fruitful and developmental 🙂

Keywords: SERS, Raman, life science, cooperation, official distributor, USA, Mexico, platforms, substrates, test, business
We will have the pleasure of attending a virtual B2B event, „Baltic Photonics 2021 MedLife“, on the 16th of September!

This online conference focuses on medical life sciences intending to promote Baltic photonics and laser technologies, life science and medical research and innovations.

 

We will present our SERS-based solutions and the potential of combining them with Artificial Intelligence, which might be a brand new way for medical diagnosis of pathogens and life sciences research.

 

Event page: https://toolas.eu/baltic-photonics-2021-medlife/

Registration is free of charge: https://forms.gle/pm2xhpnssRK4Z6Xp7

(all registered participants will receive a link to translation platform, where they can as questions to the speakers in the chat)

 

Join us on September 16, 2021 🙂

Keywords: SERS-based solutions, Raman, Baltic Photonics, Toolas, medical life sciences, photonics, laser technologies, medicine, research and development, innovations, combining with Artificial Intelligence, diagnosis of pathogens, biology, pharmaceutical, biomedicine
Concentration-dependent SERS profile of olanzapine on silver and silver-gold metallic substrates.

Jamelah S. Al-Otaibi, Paweł Albrycht, Y. Sheena Mary, Y. Shyma Mary & Monika Księżopolska-Gocalska

Using nanosized metal substrates, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a tool for improving the Raman signal of biomolecules. For detection, SERS has gained much popularity and an important role in determining chemical composition. In the present study, SERS spectra of 2-methyl-4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-10H-thieno[2,3-b][1,5]benzodiazepine (olanzapine) (MPTB) were investigated on silver and silver-gold metal substrates (SERSitive, Warsaw, Poland) at different concentrations. Also, different chemical and electronic properties are investigated using DFT calculations. The ring and other functional modes in SERS change in frequency values with variations in intensity for all concentrations. The molecule is oriented in a tilted manner with respect to Ag and Ag-Au.

Keywords: DFT, SERS, Benzodiazepine, Metal substrates, Ag, Ag-Au, SERS, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research,
Surface enhanced Raman scattering investigation of pioglitazone on silver and silver-gold metal substrates – Experimental analysis and theoretical modelling

Paweł Albrycht, Jamelah S. Al-Otaibi, Y. Sheena Mary, Y. Shyma Mary, Ravi Trivedi, Brahmananda Chakraborty

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a spectroscopic technique for trace analysis where the efficiency depends on the substrate. In the present work, concentration-dependent SERS of pioglitazone (EPMT) in silver and silver-gold substrates are reported. The presence and absence of different SERS peaks between the analyte spectra on silver and silver-gold substrates show that there is an orientation change of the analyte adsorbed depending on the surface-active metal. The density functional theory (DFT) method was used to verify the experimental findings obtained from normal Raman and SERS spectra. Theoretical modeling of EPMT and metal clusters are reported and enhancement factors are found from theoretical and experimental results. In the EPMT-Ag-Ag and EPMT-Ag-Au molecular systems, Frontier molecular orbital’s (FMO’s) results highlight charge transfers from Ag-Ag/Ag-Au clusters to the molecule. Furthermore, the SERS enhancement factor values show that EPMT is chemisorbed.

Keywords: Pioglitazone, SERS, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research,
SERSitive Awarded!!! at Polish Product of the Future competition held by PARP and NCBiR

We are so excited! Our ideas for developing SERSitive SERS substrates for biomedicine applications were appreciated by the PARP and NCBiR for the most innovative Polish products and technologies in the competition for the Polish Product of the Future!
We were honoured with two awards:

1) Distinction Award in the category “Modern Science Solutions”
2) Special Award of the Ministry of Education and Science

We are very thankful that we could participate in this prestigious competition and could share our #innovativesolutions 😊

More:
ScienceInPoland
Innovations
PARP catalogue (Polish version only)

Keywords: PARP, NCBiR, NCBR, PPP, Polish Product of the Future, Award, Competition, SERSitive winning, SERS, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research,
Formation of Citrazinic Acid Ions and Their Contribution to Optical and Magnetic Features of Carbon Nanodots: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach

MOCCI F, OLLA C, CAPPAI A, CORPINO R, RICCI PC, CHIRIU D, SALIS M, CARBONARO CM.

The molecular model is one of the most appealing to explain the peculiar optical properties of Carbon nanodots (CNDs) and was proven to be successful for the bottom up synthesis, where a few molecules were recognized. Among the others, citrazinic acid is relevant for the synthesis of citric acid-based CNDs. Here we report a combined experimental and computational approach to discuss the formation of different protonated and deprotonated species of citrazinic acid and their contribution to vibrational and magnetic spectra. By computing the free energy formation in water solution, we selected the most favoured species and we retrieved their presence in the experimental surface enhanced Raman spectra. As well, the chemical shifts are discussed in terms of tautomers and rotamers of most favoured species. The expected formation of protonated and de-protonated citrazinic acid ions under extreme pH conditions was proven by evaluating specific interactions with H2SO4 and NaOH molecules. The reported results confirm that the presence of citrazinic acid and its ionic forms should be considered in the interpretation of the spectroscopic features of CNDs.

Keywords: SERS, citrazinic acid; Raman spectroscopy; NMR spectroscopy; carbon nanodots; DFT calculations
Insight into the Molecular Model in Carbon Dots through Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Citrazinic Acid in Aqueous Solution

Antonio Cappai, Claudio Melis, Luigi Stagi, Pier C. Ricci, Francesca Mocci, and Carlo M. Carbonaro

The molecular emission model is the most accredited one to explain the emission properties of carbon dots (CDs) in a low-temperature bottom-up synthesis approach. In the case of citric acid and urea, the formation of a citrazinic acid (CZA) single monomer and oligomers is expected to affect the optical properties of the CDs. It is therefore mandatory to elucidate the possible role of weak bonding interactions in determining the UV absorption spectrum of some molecular aggregates of CZA. Although this carboxylic acid is largely exploited in the synthesis of luminescent CDs, a full understanding of its role in determining the final emission spectra of the produced CDs is still very far to be achieved. To this aim, by relying on purely first-principles density functional theory calculations combined with experimental optical characterization, we built and checked the stability of some molecular aggregates, which could possibly arise from the formation of oligomers of CZA, mainly dimers, trimers, and some selected tetramers. The computed vibrational fingerprint of the formation of aggregates is confirmed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The comparison of experimental data with calculated UV absorption spectra showed a clear impact of the final morphology of the aggregates on the position of the main peaks in the UV spectra, with particular regard to the 340 nm peak associated with n-π* transition.

Keywords: SERS, Citrazinic Acid in Aqueous Solution, carbon dots
We would like to invite you for the online conference ‘smallChem’

17-18 Februbary 2021, International Online Conference- WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU There!

 

The two-day Small Chem 2021 Online International Conference will present the most recent advances in fundamental research, technology developments and business opportunities in the Chemistry sector. More than 25 high profile talks from worldwide most influential academia & industry experts will present speeches in this international event on how chemistry latest advances will impact positively our daily life.
Small Chem 2021 will be a two-day online event that means to gather the key players of the Chemistry community and related sectors. This event is launched considering that all major scientific and technological in-person conferences are being cancelled or postponed worldwide until middle of 2021.

Keywords: SERS, Raman, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, press, sciene, big scale research,
30.11 – 01.12 2020, ONLINE on YouTube – WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU THERE!

We would like to invite you and your community to an event like never before, where it is not your skills but your groundbreaking dreams that count!
Welcome to international competition for young scientists:

Dream Chemistry Award 2020

with the special event:
Perspectives on the chemistry publishing landscape.
Lecture delivered by Russell Johnson editor at Nature Chemistry

Dream Chemistry Award

Day 1
30th of November 2020, 06:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. CET
Opening ceremony
&
Lectures of the 5 Top Finalists of the DCA 2020
YouTube online stream of DCA 2020 – Day 1

Day 2
1st of December 2020, 06:00 p.m. – 09:00 p.m. CET
Lecture of the winner of the DCA 2020
&
Special event:
Perspectives on the chemistry publishing landscape
Lecture delivered by Russel Johnson editor at Nature Chemistry
YouTube online stream of DCA 2020 – Day 2

Keywords: Dream, Chemistry, Award, Dream Chemistry Award, 2020, Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS, Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Prize, Holyst, Hołyst, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS, Biochemistry, Jungwirth
The most beautiful city and the biggest conference on Raman Spectroscopy now at the same time in the same place: XXVII International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy

1-6 AUGUST 2021, ROME, ITALY – WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU IN ITALY IN 2021!

 

We would like to invite you to the beautiful ancient city where antiquity meets modernity – Rome! The city where science has grown now will hold the most significant and the biggest conference on Raman Spectroscopy – ICORS20/21. We would like to proudly announce that we are official sponsors of this conference among such gigantic companies as HORIBA, WITec, or Edinburgh Instruments.

Make sure you take a vacation before or after the conference to visit the city. We recommend it from our own experience! You will find an ancient building, beautiful sculptures, and more on every step you make!

Keywords: SERS, Raman, Non-linear and time resolved Sers, Ters and plasmonics, Material science, Fundamentals and theory, Biology and biomedicine, Novel Techniques, analytics and applications, photoscience in biology, experimental techniques, Raman spectroscopy, theoretical approaches, single molecules, synthesis methods, ultrafast photochemistry, photoscience at nanoscale, infrared spectroscopy, surface enhanced raman spectroscopy, conference, ICORS20/21