Fast Detection of Saxitoxin Using Laser Tweezers Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Qiyong Huai, Chunlei Gao, Jinlai Miao, huilu yao and Zongling Wang
Saxitoxin (STX) is a potent marine biotoxin which can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning when consumed. With the development of research, STX has become more and more important in red tide detection, medical research, food safety and warfare agent application. However, new methods for the fast analysis of STX are required. In this study, we used laser optical tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) combined with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect STX. Very strong intensity and sharp Raman peaks were achieved. The spectra were obtained at 2 seconds without accumulations. Tentative vibrational mode assignments of the observed peaks for SERS spectra of STX are described. The detection limit and the minimum quantitative limit of this method were 2 nM and 16 nM, respectively. This study supports LTRS - SERS as a new fast, convenient analytical method for STX and other toxicants and pollutants in the environment.
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