Partnership to Develop Biosensing Platform based on SERS

A*STAR’s Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) and XLIM (CNRS/ Université de Limoges), a French research institute that focuses on the fields of optics, electromagnetics, electronics, computer science and mathematics, have signed a three-year research collaboration agreement (RCA) to jointly develop a highly sensitive biosensing platform based on the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technique.

This will have the ability to produce narrow vibrational ‘fingerprint’ spectra coupled with photonic crystal fiber (PCF) technologies, combining the advantages of molecular fingerprinting of Raman scattering, enormous enhancement factor of SERS and the flexibility of optical PCFs.

Team members of this project collaboration include Prof Malini Olivo and Dr. Dinish U. S from SBIC and Dr Georges Humbert from XLIM.

Prof Malini Olivo, Head, Bio-optical Imaging Group, SBIC, said, “We are very excited about this novel technology, where we can investigate any biomarkers in body fluids with very high sensitivity. It also offers a platform for the detection of biomarkers in extremely small sample volumes, for example in nanolitres. In addition, this concept allows the simultaneous multiplexed detection of biomarkers. We would like to initiate pilot clinical trials using this technology as soon as possible.”

Prof Patrick Cozzone, Executive Director of SBIC, said, “This international research collaboration between Singapore and France is to develop a highly sensitive optical biosensor platform, which has got tremendous potential for clinical translation. The expertise of researchers from SBIC, Singapore and XLIM, France, is important in developing this first of its kind optical fiber-based SERS biosensing platform for the direct analysis of body fluids.”