Detection of Bioaerosols Using Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

This chapter contains a brief historical perspective and basic principles of the Raman Effect, focusing on its evolution from an esoteric technique to an everyday lab tool used for sample analysis. As a vibrational spectroscopic technique, Raman is complementary to infrared spectroscopy (IRS) and some fundamental differences, as well as similarities between them are discussed. Raman spectroscopy has been established as an excellent tool for both materials characterization and biophysical studies. The type of information obtained from this technique, several applications in detection, identification and characterization of several types of samples are also discussed. Within the main principal applications of Raman spectroscopy and its variations, including Normal Raman, resonance Raman and UV-Raman spectroscopies, coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering and surface enhanced Raman scattering, this chapter focuses on detection of biological aerosols. This topic was reviewed in depth and details are included. Optimization parameters to achieve fast, nondestructive and sensitive analysis on biodetection and to analyze the data are also included briefly to allow the fundamental studies for applications in research areas such as environmental pollution monitoring, biomedicine and in areas of defense and security.KeywordsRaman SignalRaman SpectroscopySurface Enhance Raman SpectroscopyResonance RamanDipicolinic AcidThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.