Advances in TERS (tip-enhanced Raman scattering) for biochemical applications

Abstract

TERS (tip-enhanced Raman scattering) provides exceptional spatial resolution without any need for labelling and has become a versatile tool for biochemical analysis. Two examples will be highlighted here. On the one hand, TERS measurements on a single mitochondrion are discussed, monitoring the oxidation state of the central iron ion of cytochrome c, leading towards a single protein characterization scheme in a natural environment. On the other hand, a novel approach of single molecule analysis is discussed, again based on TERS experiments on DNA and RNA, further highlighting the resolution capabilities of this method.