Cellular sensing: Small 4/2010

The cover picture shows nanocoral probes docking on a cancer-cell membrane (combination of false-color scanning electron micrograph and illustration). Nanocorals are a new class of bioinspired nanoprobes, which demonstrate independent cell-targeting and label-free biomolecular sensing capabilities. The highly roughened gold region of the nanocoral increases the molecular adsorption capacity and causes a strong surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy signal. The smooth polystyrene region can adsorb antibodies, allowing the nanocoral to specifically bind to receptors on the cancer-cell membrane, making nanocorals multifunctional nanosensors for cellular diagnostics and treatment evaluation. For more information, please read the Communication “Bioinspired Nanocorals with Decoupled Cellular Targeting and Sensing Functionality” by L. P. Lee et al., beginning on page 503.