Active control of silver nanoparticles spacing using dielectrophoresis for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Anal Chem. 2012 May 1;84(9):4029-35. doi: 10.1021/ac203381n. Epub 2012 Apr 11.

Abstract

We demonstrate an active microfluidic platform that integrates dielectrophoresis for the control of silver nanoparticles spacing, as they flow in a liquid channel. By careful control of the nanoparticles spacing, we can effectively increase the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal intensity based on augmenting the number of SERS-active hot-spots, while avoiding irreversible aggregation of the particles. The system is benchmarked using dipicolinate (2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) (DPA), which is a biomarker of Bacillus anthracis. The validity of the results is discussed using several complementing characterization scenarios.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus anthracis / isolation & purification
  • Electrophoresis, Microchip / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Picolinic Acids
  • Pyridines / analysis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Picolinic Acids
  • Pyridines
  • Silver
  • dipicolinic acid