Controlled synthesis of biocompatible rGO@CD@Au nanocomposites for trace detection for doxorubicin by Raman imaging spectroscopy

A novel nanocomposite of rGO@CD@Au was prepared by a hydrothermal method. Microscopic techniques and various spectroscopic were used to characterize the nanocomposites. Under a suitable reaction condition, uniform Au nanoparticles on the reduced graphene oxide sheets could be selectively synthesized, which showed the best surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) activity among all samples. Cell experiments indicated the as-prepared rGO@Au@CD possessed better biocompatibility than the corresponding rGO@CD@Ag or rGO@Au. DOX, a widely used anti-cancer drug, could be detected at low concentration using this nanocomposite as SERS substrate. The present study provided an ideal drug monitoring system for malignant cancer therapy. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.