Bridging plasmon enhanced spot and molecular fingerprinting: Dark-field light scattering imaging integrated with surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Dual-modal integration has become an imperative solution to overcome the limitations of single-modal analysis in dynamic and complex environments. The integration of dark-field light scattering imaging (DFLSI) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been demonstrated as a dual-modal scattering tool in the field of biochemical detection owing to their inherent complementary advantages. While DFLSI provides high-contrast, high-signal-to-noise-ratio visualization of nanoparticle spatial distribution, it lacks specificity. SERS offers precise molecular fingerprints but suffers from substrate-dependent spatial non-uniformity. The integrated DFLSI-SERS platform effectively overcomes these limitations through a synergistic “localization-identification” strategy, enabling the synchronous, high-resolution in situ analysis of nanostructure morphology and chemical composition. This review summarizes the fundamental principles and advantages of the DFLSI-SERS platform, with a detailed discussion on the design of dual-functional probes that exhibit both excellent resonance light scattering and SERS enhancement. We also summarize its multi-disciplinary applications, including biochemical molecules detection, cell imaging analysis, dynamic monitoring of chemical reactions and structural evolution, and environmental micro/nano-pollutant analysis. Furthermore, we discuss current challenges and future directions, focusing on the rational design of balanced dual-modal probes, enhanced matrix interference resistance, spatiotemporally synchronized data acquisition, and algorithm-assisted multimodal data processing. Overall, this review demonstrates the transformative potential of DFLSI-SERS in driving innovative breakthroughs across analytical science and beyond.