Application of SERS method for detection of methotrexate molecules in human plasma

This study demonstrates the possibility of the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method to determine concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) in human plasma. This method makes it possible to detect low concentrations of methotrexate in biological samples with relatively inexpensive portable equipment. The SERS signal may be greatly enhanced using nanostructured plasmonic materials which will make this method highly sensitive, selective and productive. The use of SERS to perform a therapeutic drug monitoring procedure is a promising method because of its extreme sensitivity, specificity and speed of analysis.