This research program involves the development of nanoscale intracellular sensors that employ surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to allow for the real-time monitoring of the expression and modification of as many as 50 different proteins within individual living cells.
Applications of these sensors include: fundamental biological studies of how various cellular pathways are affected by stimuli as well as the real-time monitoring of physiological exposure of individuals to environmental factors (e.g., disease, biological agents, etc.) in a pre-symptomatic fashion. Various aspects of this work have been funded by theDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).