S Gonchukov

Confocal Raman microscopy of pathologic cells in cerebrospinal fluid

In this work, the spatial localization of leucocytes, bacteria, and erythrocytes in the crystal pattern of a dried droplet of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is established. Characteristic lines are detected and identified in the Raman spectrum of the CSF that point to the presence of pathologic cells therein and can be used in a timely way to diagnose meningitis, the spectroscopic sample preparation procedure being simple enough. A dry CSF sample retains its characteristic spectral features for no less than three days, which is important for its safe keeping and transportation, and also for the computer processing of its spectra.

Periodontitis diagnostics using resonance Raman spectroscopy on saliva

In view of its wealth of molecular information, Raman spectroscopy has been the subject of active biomedical research. The aim of this work is Raman spectroscopy (RS) application for the determination of molecular biomarkers in saliva with the objective of early periodontitis detection. As was shown in our previous study, carotenoids contained in saliva can be molecular fingerprint information for the periodontitis level. It is shown here that the carotenoid RS lines at wavenumbers of 1156 and 1524 cm−1 can be easily detected and serve as reliable biomarkers of periodontitis using resonance Raman spectroscopy of dry saliva.

Background-free, highly sensitive surface-enhanced IR absorption of rhodamine 6G molecules deposited onto an array of microholes in thin silver film

Selective IR absorption at 1261 cm−1 enhanced by 455 times, was demonstrated for rhodamine 6G molecules, covering a 2D-photonic crystal, represented by a regular array of 4-micron wide holes in a 30 nm thick silver film on a CaF2 substrate. The reference absorption lines were taken near 2900 cm−1, where the IR radiation is freely channeling through the microholes, indicating the reference substrate coverage by the dye molecules for its relative internal calibration. The limit of background-free detection for the analyte was determined at the level ~10−2 monolayer.

Diffraction microgratings as a novel optical biosensing platform

Using a micro-hole grating in a supported silver film as a laser-fabricated novel optical platform for surface-enhanced IR absoprtion/reflection spectroscopy, characteristic absorption bands of Staphylococcus aureus, in particular, its buried carotenoid fragments, were detected in FT-IR spectra with 10-fold analytical enhancement, paving the way for the spectral express-identification of pathogenic microorganisms.

Fluorescence diagnostics of periodontitis

This study is aimed at the development of a non-invasive method for detecting supraand subgingival calculi whose formation leads to the development of the most widespread stomatological disease, i.e., periodontitis. In practice, diagnostics and treatment of this disease is commonly performed visually and tactilely. This does not allow complete scaling or dental calculi are removed together with hard tooth tissues. It was experimentally shown that the presence or absence of dental calculi can be rapidly detected by measuring fluorescence spectra in the visible wavelength region, not damaging hard tooth tissues. Fluorescence diagnostics can be performed simultaneously with scaling and allows real-time identification of calculus and the instant of its complete removal without damaging hard tooth tissues.

SINGLE BACTERIUM DETECTION USING SERS

This work is devoted to the study of a single Staphylococcus aureus bacterium detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and resonant Raman spectroscopy (RS). It was shown that SERS allows increasing sensitivity of predominantly low frequency lines connected with the vibrations of Amide, Proteins and DNA. At the same time the lines of carotenoids inherent to this kind of bacterium are well-detected due to the resonance Raman scattering mechanism. The reproducibility and stability of Raman spectra strongly depend on the characteristics of nanostructured substrate, and molecular structure and size of the tested biological object.

Detection of single bacteria – causative agents of meningitis using raman microscopy

Early diagnostics of meningitis is a very topical problem as it is a fulminant disease with a high level of mortality. The progress of this disease is, as a rule, accompanied by the appearance of bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition. The examination of the CSF is well known to be the only reliable approach to the identification of meningitis. However, the traditional biochemical analyses are time consuming and not always reliable, simple, and inexpensive, whereas the optical methods are poorly developed. This work is devoted to the study of Raman spectra of several bacterial cultures which are mainly present during meningitis. Raman microscopy is a prompt and noninvasive technique capable of providing reliable information about molecular-level alterations of biological objects at their minimal quantity and size. It was shown that there are characteristic lines in Raman spectra which can be the reliable markers for determination of bacterial form of meningitis at a level of a single bacterium.

Microstructures as IR-sensors with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria

Using a micro-hole grating in a supported silver film as a laser-fabricated novel optical platform for surface-enhanced IR absoprtion/reflection spectroscopy, characteristic absorption bands of Staphylococcus aureus, especially – its buried carotenoid fragments – were detected in FT-IR spectra with 10-fold analytical enhancement, paving the way to spectral express-identification of the pathogenic microorganisms.

Nano-Se: Cheap and easy-to-obtain novel material for all-dielectric nano-photonics

Milligram-per-second production of selenium nanoparticles in water sols was realized through few W, kHz-rate nanosecond laser ablation of a solid selenium pellet. High-yield particle formation mechanism and ultimate mass-removal yield were elucidated by optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy characterization of crater depths and topographies. Deposited particles were inspected by scanning electron microscopy, while optical transmission Raman and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy characterized their hydrosols.