Metal coordination-functionalized Au–Ag bimetal SERS nanoprobe for sensitive detection of glutathione

We demonstrated a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanoprobe, neocuproine-Cu (Nc-Cu^II)-functionalized Au-Ag "nanobowls" (Au-Ag NBs/Nc-Cu^II), for detection of glutathione (GSH). Detection was accomplished with alternation of SERS spectra from Nc-Cu^II into Nc-Cu^I resulting from the reaction of GSH with Nc-Cu^II on Au-Ag NBs. This nanoprobe exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity (μM) towards GSH.