A method of analyzing a sample is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a spectral response of the sample, selecting a reference material having a Raman peak with a magnitude at a wave number, measuring a peak value in the spectral response at the wave number, and determining an amount of the reference material in the sample based in part on a ratio of the measured peak value to the magnitude of the Raman peak of the reference material.

In an example, a lab-on-chip Raman spectroscopy system is described. The lab-on-chip system includes a housing having a fluid channel formed thereon. The fluid channel is coupled to an inlet and to an outlet. A surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate is positioned inside the fluid channel. The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate includes a plasmonic nanostructure and a sacrificial, conformal passivation coating deposited over at least the plasmonic nanostructure.

A flow cell device including a spherical optical element is disclosed. The spherical lens can be sealed to the body of the flow cell device in a manner that provides external optical access to a fluid in an analysis region of a flow path through the flow cell device. The seal can be provided by an elastomer, a polymer, or a deformable metal. The disposition of the spherical lens to the flow path enables in situ optical analysis of the fluid. An optical analysis device can be removably connected to the flow cell device to provide the optical analysis. In some embodiments the optical analysis device is a portable Raman spectrometer. The flow cell device can provide a supplementary interrogation interface, and/or an on board sensor device(s) to enable multivariate analysis and/or advanced triggering.

Devices and systems are provided herein relating to a novel and rapid assay for tissue staining. Methods for using the devices and systems for analyzing tissue samples are also disclosed.

An apparatus may include a frame layer having a recess, a substrate secured to the frame layer at least partially across the recess and a surface enhanced luminescence (SEL) stage supported by the substrate within the recess.

A hand-held microfluidic testing device is provided that includes a housing having a cartridge receiving port, a cartridge for input to the cartridge receiving port having a sample input and a channel, where the channel includes a mixture of Raman-scattering nanoparticles and a calibration solution, where the calibration solution includes chemical compounds capable of interacting with a sample under test input to the cartridge and the Raman-scattering nanoparticles, and an optical detection system in the housing, where the optical detection system is capable of providing an illuminated electric field, where the illuminating electric field is capable of being used for Raman spectroscopy with the Raman-scattering nanoparticles and the calibration solution to analyze the sample under test input to the cartridge.

A microfluidic chip may include a substrate, chamber supported by the substrate, a sacrificial material in the chamber, a spectroscopically active nano particle assembly anchored within the chamber by the sacrificial material and a fluid supply port connected to the chamber. Each spectroscopically active nano particle assembly may include a cluster of nanoparticles.

A method for fabricating a composite film structure, the method includes determining a desired morphology for a metallic layer of the composite film structure, selecting a first metal substrate based on the determining, transferring a graphene layer onto the first metal substrate, depositing the metallic layer on the graphene layer to achieve the desired morphology, and removing the first metal substrate from the graphene and the deposited metallic layer to form the composite film structure. A surface energy difference between the first metal substrate and the deposited metallic layer results in the desired morphology of the metallic layer.

Various techniques are provided to implement, operate, and manufacture a chemical detection device. In one embodiment, a device includes a flow path comprising an analyte reporter configured to receive samples passed by the flow path. The device also includes an excitation source configured generate a response from the analyte reporter. The device also includes a detector configured to receive the response from the analyte reporter to determine whether the samples comprise a material of interest. The device also includes a support structure configured to position the flow path relative to the excitation source and the detector, wherein the support structure comprises a carbon filled polymer material. Additional devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

An apparatus (10) for characterizing particles, comprising: a microscope objective with an optical axis and a depth of field; a holder cell (22) configured to position the particles in a generally planar volume below the microscope objective, the planar volume being substantially normal to the optical axis and having a depth that is less than or equal to the depth of field, wherein a portion of the cell holder (22) for positioning in the optical axis of the microscope objective is substantially free of significant spectral features in a Raman spectral range; an x-y stage (20) to move the microscope objective relative to the holder cell (22) in x and y directions to align particles with the optical axis of the microscope objective while the particles are held by the holder cell (22), a detector (18) for acquiring an image of a particle through the microscope objective, a laser operable to illuminate a particle held by the holder cell (22), a Raman spectrometer (16) arranged to obtain a spectrum including the Raman spectral range from the illuminated particle, and characterizing logic operative to characterize the particle based on image processing operations performed on the acquired image and based on the Raman spectrum. The holder cell (22) comprises a first plate (34) and a second plate (36) that are separated by a predetermined distance defining the planar volume depth.