Urine SERS Analysis of Sanda Athletes Before and After Competition

ABSTRACT Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology can be utilized for the trace detection of fingerprint information in biological fluids at the molecular level, which enables an early prediction of the metabolic status and health conditions of living organisms. Therefore, this technology holds significant implications for human health and disease monitoring. Herein, the capability of using SERS technology for label‐free and noninvasive detection of the metabolic components in the urine of Sanda athletes before and after competitions is presented. By leveraging the colloidal gold (core)‐silver shell nanoparticles as SERS substrate, we performed urine SERS measurements of 14 Sanda athletes before and after competitions. Additionally, the methods of principal components analysis (PCA) combined with independent sample t ‐test were employed to analyze the athletes' urine SERS spectra. The analysis reveals significant increases in the levels of uric acid, urea, phenylalanine, and tryptophan in the urine of Sanda athletes before and after competitions. This study highlights the potential of SERS spectroscopy for label‐free, noninvasive, and rapid molecular‐level urine analysis in athletes during their competitions. These findings may provide valuable guidance and serve as a useful reference for athletes regarding the monitoring of physical damage and the supplementation of nutrition during both training and competitions.