Driving self-assembly in a microfluidic system for surface enhanced Raman analysis

An advanced optofluidic system for protein analysis based on Raman signal amplification via dewetting and self-assembly of molecules on the surface of a microreservoir is herein presented. The evaporation-induced SERS technique proposed herein allows detection and analysis of proteins in their native state with high accuracy and sensitivity and represents a promising method to study self-assembly protein processes. Thereby the SERS microfluidic system presented can give real perspective of applications in several biochemical and biological studies.