Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is a versatile molecular fingerprinting technique with rapid signal readout, high aqueous compatibility, and portability. To translate SERS for real-world applications, it is pertinent to overcome inherent challenges, including high sample variability and heterogeneity, matrix effects, and nonlinear SERS signal responses of different analytes in complex (bio)chemical matrices with numerous interfering species. In this perspective, we highlight emerging SERS-based multimodal techniques to address the key roadblocks to improving the sensitivity, specificity, and reliability of (bio)chemical detection, bioimaging, theragnosis, and theragnostic. SERS-based multimodal techniques can be broadly categorized into two categories: (1) complementary methods or systems that work together to achieve a common goal where each method compensates for the weaknesses of the other to culminate in a single enhanced outcome or (2) orthogonal techniques that are independent and provide separate but corroborating results simultaneously without interfering with each other. These multimodal techniques maximize information gained from a single experiment to achieve enhanced qualitative or quantitative analysis and broaden the range of detectable analytes from small molecules to tissues. Finally, we discuss emerging directions in multimodal platform design, instrument integration, and data analytics that aim to push the analytical limits of holistic detection.

中文翻译：

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基于表面增强拉曼散射的多模态技术：进展和前景


表面增强拉曼散射 （SERS） 光谱是一种多功能的分子指纹图谱技术，具有快速信号读出、高水性兼容性和便携性。为了将 SERS 应用于实际应用，必须克服固有的挑战，包括高样品变异性和异质性、基质效应以及具有众多干扰物质的复杂（生物）化学基质中不同分析物的非线性 SERS 信号响应。从这个角度来看，我们强调了新兴的基于 SERS 的多模式技术，以解决提高（生物）化学检测、生物成像、治疗和治疗学的敏感性、特异性和可靠性的关键障碍。基于 SERS 的多模式技术大致可分为两类：（1） 协同工作以实现共同目标的互补方法或系统，其中每种方法都补偿了另一种方法的弱点，最终获得单一的增强结果或 （2） 独立且同时提供独立但确凿结果而不会相互干扰的正交技术。这些多模式技术可最大限度地利用从单个实验中获得的信息，以实现增强的定性或定量分析，并将可检测分析物的范围从小分子扩大到组织。最后，我们讨论了多模式平台设计、仪器集成和数据分析的新兴方向，旨在突破整体检测的分析极限。