Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy: A Game Changer for Metabolomics Research

Metabolomic detection enables a systems-level understanding of biological processes, while many emerging demands remain unmet. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has recently evolved into a promising platform for metabolic detection yet not reaching true metabolomics. This Mini-Review is motivated by recent advances in understanding molecule-nanomaterial interactions aimed at addressing the related limitations. We first outline the fundamental principles enabling SERS-based metabolomic detection, including specificity, sensitivity, near-field compatibility with small metabolites, and nondestructiveness. Gaps between current SERS techniques and true metabolomics are delineated, and the key technical advances to overcome these challenges are also highlighted, including digital SERS, SERSome, molecule-resolvable SERSome, probe-functionalized nanomaterials, and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis. These developments have enabled SERS across multiple analytical paradigms, spanning targeted detection, phenotypic profiling, and emerging metabolomics. At last, we discuss the future challenges in hopes of advancing SERS from a sensing-oriented technique to a true metabolomic platform, ultimately facilitating the decoding of biological systems.