Citation: Pengpeng Lu, Weikang Wang, Yue Zhao, Hui Dong, Limin Zhang. A multi-signal readout-SERS probe with multiple binding sites for simultaneous recognition of biological thiols in living neurons and brains[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(10): 112236. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112236 shu

A multi-signal readout-SERS probe with multiple binding sites for simultaneous recognition of biological thiols in living neurons and brains

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China

lmzhang@chem.ecnu.edu.cn

Received Date: 25 September 2025
Revised Date: 25 November 2025
Accepted Date: 8 December 2025
Available Online: 9 December 2025

Figures(6)

The simultaneous discrimination of structurally similar biological thiols in living systems remains a significant challenge. To address this, we designed a novel self-calibrating SERS probe, 2-(3,5-dinitrophenoxy)-4-(2-(4-ethynylbenzoylamino)ethyl)phenyl-2-fluoro-5-nitrobenzoate (DEP), for the simultaneous detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), polysulfide (H₂S_n), and cysteine (Cys). This single-molecule probe incorporates three distinct binding sites, each specific to a different biothiol, enabling multiplex detection through five characteristic Raman signals (178, 264, 454, 1186, and 1600 cm^-1). The Raman band at 2056 cm^-1, located in the silent region, serves as an internal reference to establish a ratiometric sensing strategy, thereby improving detection accuracy. The resulting spectral variations were processed statistically using principal component analysis (PCA), allowing for the simultaneous assay of the three thiols. The DEP probe was anchored onto biocompatible gold nanorods (AuNRs), optimized for 785 nm laser excitation, to form the final SERS biosensor. The developed platform successfully identified and differentiated H₂S, H₂S_n, and Cys in complex biological environments, including living neurons and brain microdialysates.
- Raman spectroscopy,
- Biological thiol,
- PCA,
- Neuron,
- Brain
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沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142