A Novel Surface Enhanced Raman Catheter for Rapid Detection, Classification, and Grading of Oral Cancer

Fabrication and testing of a novel nanostructured surface-enhanced Raman catheter device is reported for rapid detection, classification, and grading of normal, premalignant, and malignant tissues with high sensitivity and accuracy. The sensor part of catheter is formed by a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate made up of leaf-like TiO2 nanostructures decorated with 30 nm sized Ag nanoparticles. The device is tested using a total of 37 patient samples wherein SERS signatures of oral tissues consisting of malignant oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), verrucous carcinoma, premalignant leukoplakia, and disease-free conditions are detected and classified with an accuracy of 97.24% within a short detection-cum-processing time of nearly 25-30 min per patient. Neoplastic grade changes detected using this device correlate strongly with conventional pathological data, enabling correct classification of tumors into three grades with an accuracy of 97.84% in OSCC. Thus, the potential of a SERS catheter device as a point-of-care pathological tool is shown for the rapid and accurate detection, classification, and grading of solid tumors.