Professor Colin Campbell

Our research group has led the field in the development of embedded sensors for 3D tissue models. Our sensors are capable of making non-invasive measurements in various tissue microenvironments. We work collaboratively with engineers, physicists, biologists and clinicians, engineering our sensors to be sensitive to a variety of conditions including metabolites, pH and enzyme activity.

Research interests

My group has pioneered the use of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) to make measurements in 3D tissue models. A key innovative element has been the development of novel SERS substrates that integrate in models such as Airway Liquid Interface (ALI), organoids and spheroids. The SERS substrates (spherical microsensors and electrospun meshes) are biocompatible and capable of making measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution.

As part of this effort, we have made new SERS reporters to measure pH, redox potential, enzyme activity and concentration of small molecules. These chemical reporters allow us to measure the chemical microenvironment in a non-invasive way and monitor the effects of therapies and/or challenges.

The instrumentation that we have available also allows us to carry out extensive Raman mapping and imaging (either through spontaneous Raman or Stimulated Raman). These techniques give an unparalleled level of label-free chemical information from biological samples.

We work in a very collaborative way that means we have access to patient materials and this has allowed us to work in areas as diverse as Cystic Fibrosis, transplant surgery and air pollution.

Research theme

Damage and repair

Selected recent publications

Kip B, Gray RD, Radacsi N, Campbell CJ. Biomimetic SERS-Active Transwell Insert for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Extracellular pH. ACS Sensors. 2026, 11 (6): 4664–4674.https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.6c00220

Aradhye PD, Mandal S, Gray RD, Campbell CJ. Adaptive Physics-Aware Raman Baseline Correction with Machine Learning Predicted Parameters. Anal Chem. 2025 Dec 9;97(48):26708-26719. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c05185. Epub 2025 Nov 26. PMID: 41294352.

Geddis A, Mendive-Tapia L, Sujantho A, Liu E, McAughtrie S, Goodwin R, Vendrell M, Campbell CJ. Label-Free SERS Sensors for Real-Time Monitoring of Tyrosine Phosphorylation. Anal Chem. 2024 Nov 12;96(45):17978-17983. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02860. Epub 2024 Oct 29. PMID: 39472080; PMCID: PMC11561882.

Skinner WH, Robinson N, Hardisty GR, Gray RD, Campbell CJ. SERS Microsensors for the Study of pH Regulation in Cystic Fibrosis Patient-Derived Airway Cultures. ACS Sens. 2024 May 24;9(5):2550-2557. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00279. Epub 2024 Apr 24. PMID: 38659220; PMCID: PMC11129347.

Skinner WH, Robinson N, Hardisty GR, Fleming H, Geddis A, Bradley M, Gray RD, Campbell CJ. SERS microsensors for pH measurements in the lumen and ECM of stem cell derived human airway organoids. Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 Mar 14;59(22):3249-3252. doi: 10.1039/d2cc06582g. PMID: 36815668.

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