Evanescent-field-induced Raman scattering for bio-friendly fingerprinting at sub-cellular dimension.

Evanescent field induced chemical imaging concept has been realized in analytical platform based on the µ-tip-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (µ-TERS). The technique aimed to minimize thermal decomposition of dried biological sample as the result of huge concentration of optical field near the tip by increasing the size of an aperture-less "excitation source". µ-TERS technique is similar to classical biosensor systems based on propagating surface plasmon resonance phenomenon but with sensitive elements a few micrometers in size that can be targeted to the area of interest.