Abstract
<jats:p>The development of highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates is essential for detecting cancer-associated biomarkers and cellular signa-tures. Here, we developed a SERS-active platform by integrating silver nanowires (AgNWs) onto gold (Au) thin-film and glass substrates for enhanced Raman analysis of cancer cells. Au thin films were deposited on silicon substrates via thermal evapora-tion, followed by AgNW deposition through drop-casting. Human cells were subse-quently immobilized on the AgNW-modified surfaces, and substrate morphology and cell interactions were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The AgNW networks supported efficient cell adhesion and enabled direct, reproducible SERS measurements. AgNW-coated Au substrates exhib-ited approximately 1500-fold greater Raman enhancement than bare Au films, demonstrating strong plasmonic coupling between AgNWs and the underlying Au layer. The substrates were evaluated using the breast cancer cell line SKBR3, the non-cancerous HEK-293 cell line, and cell culture medium. Distinct spectral differ-ences were observed among samples, reflecting interactions between the nanostruc-tured substrates and cell-specific biochemical constituents. Notably, a characteristic Raman peak at ~1028 cm⁻¹ was detected exclusively in SKBR3 cells on AgNW-based substrates, suggesting a potential biomarker associated with phenylalanine-containing collagen. Overall, AgNW-coated Au thin films provided superior signal enhancement and spectral reproducibility, highlighting their potential for sensitive cancer diagnos-tics and biomedical sensing applications.</jats:p>