| Abstract Title: | The Development of a Reliable Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrate for Paracetamol Detection |
| Presenter Name: | Ms Margarita White |
| Co-authors: | Mads Bergholt Elzbieta Stepula |
| Company/Organisation: | Bergholt Labs, King’s College London |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
Abstract Information :
The rapid detection of paracetamol in a clinical setting using a handheld device without the need for extensive sample analysis in a laboratory is a key application of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). This research aims to produce a reliable and reproducible SERS substrate for the detection of low paracetamol concentrations in solution. The final goal was to functionalise gold nanoparticles with magnetic beads to produce magnetic nanoparticles whose particle distribution could be manipulated using a magnet. A Raman confocal microscope was used to measure the SERS signals of paracetamol, 4-aminophenol and 4-nitrothiophenol testing solutions to determine which of two stabilising agents, polyethyleneimine or (11-mercaptoundecyl)-N,N,N-trimethyl-ammonium bromide, would be most effective in enhancing the SERS signal. It was determined that gold nanoparticles functionalised with 45% polyethyleneimine achieved the greatest SERS signal enhancement, and that this should be used in further research to develop an effective functionalisation procedure for the production of stabilised magnetic nanoparticles.
