Combined Raman and atomic force microscopy study of hemoglobin distribution inside erythrocytes and nanoparticle localization on the erythrocyte surface

The letter describes a combined technique of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy (mRS) to estimate the distribution of cytosolic hemoglobin (Hb) and nanoparticles (NPs) inside and on the erythrocyte surface, respectively. We have shown that cytosolic hemoglobin is distributed uniformly inside the cell while NPs absorb on the cell surface irregularly, forming nanoaggregates. The obtained data provide new insight into the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of living cells.