Single Particle Automated Raman Trapping Analysis

Enabling concurrent, high throughput analysis of single nanoparticles would greatly increase the capacity to study size, composition and inter and intra particle population variance with applications in a wide range of fields from polymer science to drug delivery. Here, we present a comprehensive platform for Single Particle Automated Raman Trapping Analysis (SPARTA) able to integrally analyse nanoparticles ranging from synthetic polymer particles to liposomes without any modification. With the developed highly controlled automated trapping process, single nanoparticles are analysed with high throughput and sensitivity to resolve particle mixtures, obtain detailed compositional spectra of complex particles, track sequential functionalisations, derive particle sizes and monitor the dynamics of click reactions occurring on the nanoparticle surface. The SPARTA platform opens up a wide range of new avenues for nanoparticle research through label-free integral high-throughput single particle analysis, overcoming key limitations in sensitivity and specificity of existing bulk analysis methods.