The review covers the main stages in the development and achievements of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), the fiftieth anniversary of which we celebrate in 2024. Modern theoretical views on the SERS effect, a retrospective of the substrates and materials used, and expansion of the range of studied compounds and objects are presented. Using the example of the most important and interesting applications of SERS spectroscopy, the achievements of the last decade are considered; its role in modern surface chemistry, nanotechnology, bioanalysis and bioimaging methods is shown.

Anisotropic gold nanoparticles have been recognized as promising agents for medical diagnostics and cancer therapy due to their wide functionality, photothermal effect, and ability for optical signal amplification in the near-infrared range. In this work, a simple and rapid method for the preparation of bone-shaped gold nanoparticles coated with a dye-impregnated silica shell with an aminated surface is proposed. The possibility of further functionalization the nanostructures with a delivery vector using folic acid as an example is demonstrated. The average size of the resulting tags does not exceed 70 nm, meeting the criteria of cell endocytosis. The prepared tags exhibit surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra at excitation with lasers of 632.8 and 785 nm. Cell imaging is performed on HeLa cells based on the most pronounced SERS bands as a tracking signal. The obtained images, along with scanning electron microscopy of cell samples, revealed the tendency of tags to agglomerate during endocytosis followed by the “hot spots” effect. To evaluate the toxic and proliferative effect of the nanotags, an MTT assay was performed with two HeLa and HEP G2 cell lines. The results revealed higher viability for HEP G2 cells.

Bulk resistance and other electrochemical properties of membranes of K+-selective electrodes (ISEs) containing valinomycin are measured by means of chronopotentiometry and electrochemical...