Functionalised SERS substrate for rapid acrylamide detection using disposable plasmonics and molecular clusters

Overview

This solution delivers a functionalised surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate built on a disposable plasmonics platform enhanced with transition metal clusters (TMCs) and metal nanocontainers (MNs). The combination amplifies the sensitivity and specificity of the SERS response toward target molecules, enabling rapid detection of acrylamide through a simple drop-test consumable format. The approach offers food industry stakeholders a practical, field-deployable alternative to conventional laboratory testing for acrylamide and other chemical moieties of interest.

Technical specifications

• Disposable plasmonic substrates serve as the base SERS platform, enabling low-cost, single-use detection consumables.
• Transition metal clusters (TMCs) chemically bind to specific chemical moieties, and the binding reaction alters the optical properties of the functional layers, enhancing the Raman signal.
• Metal nanocontainers (MNs) complement the TMCs by providing additional selectivity and stable capture of target molecules across a broad pH range in aqueous media.
• SERS detection couples the chemical specificity of TMC/MN binding with plasmonic enhancement, producing a Raman fingerprint response that is both sensitive and specific to the captured analyte.
• Compatible with shelf-compact Raman systems, supporting portable or on-site use rather than requiring full laboratory infrastructure.
• Substrates can be mass-produced at low cost, making large-scale deployment economically viable for routine food safety screening.

Technology readiness level

The underlying disposable plasmonic substrate technology has been demonstrated in recent work on SERS detection of chiral compounds, providing proof-of-concept validation for the platform. The chemical binding behaviour of transition metals with organic moieties responsive to nitrogen and oxygen coordination has been previously characterised, and Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be effective for studying related metal-organic framework reactions and selective adsorption events. Future validation will involve evaluating acrylamide interactions with candidate transition metals, synthesising bespoke TMCs and MNs, coating them onto optimised disposable plasmonic substrates, and testing performance across varying acrylamide concentrations using a commercial Raman microscope. The team is open to pursuing additional funding to complement industrial collaborator investment.