SERS sensor with rapid and quantitative detection low back pain application

Abstract

Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) plays an important role in the biomechanics of the spine. TLF often causes low back pain (LBP), leading to limb movement disorders and numbness. At present, the clinical diagnosis mainly depends on doctors' clinical experience and magnetic resonance imaging. In order to make the diagnosis more convenient and accurate, we designed a “sandwich” biosensor based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in fascia. In this study, Ag nanocubes (AgNCs) were used as the substrate, so that the antibodies of CRP and SAA were modified on the substrate surface. Then substrate combined with antigen to form the bottom layer of the sandwich. 4-Mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) and Nairn blue chloride (NBA) were used as signaling molecule probes. Hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNPs) modified with (EDC / NHS) enabled the attachment of antibodies to CRP and SAA to the surface of HGNPs. Eventually, the complex formed by the antigen-antibody reaction reacted with the sandwich substrate after the modification reaction to form the final “sandwich” structure. We successfully applied it to the specific detection of inflammatory markers in fascial tissue of TLF. The results showed that it had high stability and repeatability, which can bring some help for clinical work.