Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for the near real-time diagnosis of brain trauma in rats

The detection of severe brain trauma remains difficult when employing traditional methods in part due to the pathophysiological complexity of the condition. Current brain trauma detection includes schemes that require bulky, expensive equipment to deduce regional cerebral blood flow. These methods are difficult to use in conjunction with patients requiring ongoing intensive care and constant monitoring. Our previous studies have shown that Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with silver colloids has the ability to measure physiological concentrations of in vitro brain analytes linked to brain trauma using short scan times. More recently, after implementing a damage model for ischemia in rats, an ex vivo analysis of brain microdialysis samples shows a correlation between SERS spectral features and the occurrence and location of known localized ischema. A near real-time measurement system could provide relevant clinical information in anticipation of surgical or pharmaceutical interventions for severely head injured patients.