Recent progress of responsive Raman scattering probes for biosensing and bioimaging

Accurate and selective biomarker analysis is crucial for understanding physiopathology. Unlike fluorescence, responsive Raman scattering probes (RRPs) are gaining attention for their high spectral resolution, adjustable peak positions, and photobleaching resistance, making them ideal for biomarker detection and multi-target bioimaging. In addition, some enhanced Raman scattering techniques, such as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), tip enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), resonance Raman scattering (RRS), and stimulated Raman scattering (RSS), have overcome the inherent shortcomings of insufficient sensitivity in RRPs, enabling rapid disease diagnosis and real-time pathophysiological monitoring. However, a systematic overview of RRPs is still unavailable in the current literature. This review aims to fill this gap, primarily focusing on elucidating the design principles and exploring the biomedical applications of RRPs. Furthermore, the main challenges and prospects of RRPs are thoroughly discussed to foster the advancement of RRPs in the field of bioanalysis.