Enhanced laser-induced fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy with gold nanoparticles for the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

BackgroundThe incidence, mortality, and recurrence rates of oral cancer are high worldwide. It is a common and aggressive type of tumor. Owing to the challenges associated with early illness diagnosis, squamous cell carcinoma, a kind that is prevalent of oral cancer, has an unacceptably high fatality rate. The management of the condition and the prevention of cancer, on the other hand, depend greatly on early detection. Therefore, alternative methods for the treatment and early diagnosis are essential for oral cancer. The detection of tongue squamous cell carcinoma is aided by coupled surface plasmon resonance, which can occur in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Compared to the currently utilized imaging contrast chemicals, AuNPs are more biocompatible and capable of targeting specific surface molecules. In the current study, AuNPs were synthesized in one step via citrate reduction and applied to tongue samples of a Caucasian man's Homo sapiens (Squamous cell carcinoma from ATCC cell-lines) in order to improve early detection using and laser-induced fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy.ResultsUV–visible spectroscopy, Zeta potential, TEM, and FTIR spectroscopic technique were used to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized AuNPs measured 13 ± 3 nm with uniform size distribution and high stability. Results demonstrate the significance of AuNPs in improving the identification of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.ConclusionObtained results revealed that the use of AuNPs modifies the emitted spectra in the two employed spectroscopic techniques and provides more significant receiver operating characteristic curve parameters, hence a higher detection rate of cancer.