3-mercaptophenylboronic acid (3-MPBA) was applied as a capturer and label for bacteria detection using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The objective of this study was to further understand and advance 3-MPBA as a SERS labeling chemical to study bacteria populations using SERS. We report that the coating of bacteria cells with 3-MPBA was very strong, with bacteria producing 3-MPBA SERS signals after five thorough rinse water applications. The procedure was also found to implement harm to bacterial ecology, and the trend was quantitatively different based on the initial cell population being labeled. SERS imaging by this approach measured all labeled bacteria cells, regardless of viability. Nonculturable cells are therefore detectable by this SERS approach. Nanoparticle administrations were optimal when bacteria cells were suspended in a liquid or applied to substrates which already possessed nanostructures. Circumstances in which dried bacteria cells were present upon a substrate prior to nanoparticle administrations warranted lower SERS signals in comparison. Bacteria were analyzed at the single-cell scale using this approach, and the data revealed that microscopic objective lenses and overall bacteria population influenced the SERS limit-of-detection in this respect. The information obtained from this study provides useful guidelines for advancing 3-MPBA labeling for the SERS analysis of bacteria.

中文翻译：

---

了解和推进 3-巯基苯基硼酸化学标记，用于细菌种群的最佳表面增强拉曼光谱分析

使用表面增强拉曼光谱 (SERS) 将 3-巯基苯基硼酸 (3-MPBA) 用作细菌检测的捕获剂和标记物。本研究的目的是进一步了解和推进 3-MPBA 作为 SERS 标记化学品，以使用 SERS 研究细菌种群。我们报告说，细菌细胞的 3-MPBA 涂层非常牢固，经过五次彻底冲洗水后，细菌会产生 3-MPBA SERS 信号。还发现该程序对细菌生态学造成危害，并且根据被标记的初始细胞群，趋势在数量上有所不同。通过这种方法进行的 SERS 成像测量了所有标记的细菌细胞，无论其存活率如何。因此，这种 SERS 方法可检测到不可培养的细胞。当细菌细胞悬浮在液体中或应用于已经具有纳米结构的基材时，纳米颗粒给药是最佳的。相比之下，在纳米颗粒给药之前，干燥的细菌细胞存在于基底上的情况需要较低的 SERS 信号。使用这种方法在单细胞规模上分析了细菌，数据显示，微观物镜和总体细菌种群在这方面影响了 SERS 的检测限。从这项研究中获得的信息为推进用于细菌 SERS 分析的 3-MPBA 标记提供了有用的指导。相比之下，在纳米颗粒给药之前，干燥的细菌细胞存在于基底上的情况需要较低的 SERS 信号。使用这种方法在单细胞规模上分析了细菌，数据显示，微观物镜和总体细菌种群在这方面影响了 SERS 的检测限。从这项研究中获得的信息为推进用于细菌 SERS 分析的 3-MPBA 标记提供了有用的指导。相比之下，在纳米颗粒给药之前，干燥的细菌细胞存在于基底上的情况需要较低的 SERS 信号。使用这种方法在单细胞规模上分析了细菌，数据显示，微观物镜和总体细菌种群在这方面影响了 SERS 的检测限。从这项研究中获得的信息为推进用于细菌 SERS 分析的 3-MPBA 标记提供了有用的指导。