Advances in SERS technology for metabolite-related biomarkers detection: Overcoming limitations in disease diagnosis

Author links open overlay panelHui Chen a,Xuechun Zhou a,Xiaojing Wu a,Wei Huang a,Rui Wang b c,Ling Liu a,Fabiao Yu b c

• a

• Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China

• b

• Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Haikou Trauma, Key Laboratory of Hainan Trauma and Disaster Rescue, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China

• c

• Engineering Research Center for Hainan Bio-Smart Materials and Bio-Medical Devices, Key Laboratory of Hainan Functional Materials and Molecular Imaging, College of Emergency and Trauma, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China

Received 7 May 2025, Revised 17 November 2025, Accepted 9 February 2026, Available online 12 February 2026, Version of Record 17 February 2026.

TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry

Volume 198, May 2026, 118735

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2026.118735

Highlights

• •SERS enables ultrasensitive, non-destructive detection of metabolic biomarkers.

• •It overcomes precision and range limits of conventional diagnostics.

• •Nanoprobes enable rapid disease identification and intervention.

Abstract

Metabolite-related biomarkers play crucial roles in the medical field, which can be used as diagnostic tools for disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation, even the mechanisms of diseases. Nevertheless, conventional diagnostic techniques might face restrictions regarding the range of metabolites they can detect and the precision of their measurements. Moreover, the handling, preparation, and preservation of specimens can greatly influence the analytical outcomes. The emergence of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology offers new advantages for the detection of metabolomic markers. Known for its high sensitivity and non-destructive detection methods, SERS uses metal nanoparticles to significantly amplify spectral signals, enabling the detection of low-abundance biomolecules. This review discusses the application of SERS technology in the design and development of nanoprobes for biological analysis and detection at various dimensions and levels of disease. These innovations are intended to overcome the constraints of conventional diagnostic techniques, facilitating the prompt identification and intervention for illnesses.

Graphical abstract

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