We have explored the use of a fiber-optic probe with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing modality for early, noninvasive and, rapid diagnosis of potential renal acute rejection (AR) and other renal graft dysfunction of kidney transplant patients. Multimode silica optical fiber immobilized with colloidal Ag nanoparticles at the distal end was used for SERS measurements of as-collected urine samples at 632.8 nm excitation wavelength. All patients with abnormal renal graft function (3 AR episodes and 2 graft failure episodes) who were clinically diagnosed independently show common unique SERS spectral features in the urines collected just one day after transplant. SERS-based fiber-optic probe has excellent potential to be a bedside tool for early diagnosis of kidney transplant patients for timely medical intervention of patients at high risk of transplant dysfunction.

Date Published: 18 June 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9098, Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications XI, 90980P (18 June 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2054976

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9098:
Fiber Optic Sensors and Applications XI
Henry H. Du; Gary Pickrell; Eric Udd; Christopher S. Baldwin; Jerry J. Benterou; Anbo Wang, Editor(s)