Application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the diagnosis of infectious diseases

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is increasingly emerging as a pivotal analytical technique in the field of clinical diagnostics. The diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases demand rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate detection methods. Recent innovations in novel SERS substrate materials and structural designs offer significant enhancement of SERS signals. This review summarizes the applications of SERS technology in the identification of various pathogenic microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, atypical pathogens, and parasites), antibiotic susceptibility testing, and the detection of infection and inflammation biomarkers. It highlights the significant value of integrating SERS with other diagnostic platforms—such as PCR/CRISPR, lateral flow assays (LFAs), microfluidics, and microarray chips—for infectious disease detection. The constructed SERS detection platforms demonstrate notable advantages over traditional methods in terms of high sensitivity, rapid response, and multiplex detection capability. Finally, future development trends in SERS detection technology are discussed, focusing on its potential in point-of-care testing (POCT) and integration with artificial intelligence.