High sensitivity molecule detection by plasmonic nanoantennas with selective binding at electromagnetic hotspots

Nanoscale. 2014;6(3):1416-22. doi: 10.1039/c3nr04494g.

Abstract

We report a highly sensitive biomolecule detection by plasmonic nanoantenna arrays with selective binding at the optical hotspots. The plasmonic nanoantennas consist of two separated Au nanorods with a thin Ti disk placed in between. By using selective surface modification chemistry, controlled binding occurs only in the gaps between the plasmonic nanoantennas, which ensures a high detection sensitivity. Both optical characterization using a dark field microscope and the FDTD simulation show that after the streptavidin binding, the signal increases with decreasing gap size. Compared to a single nanorod, the signal obtained per bound molecule in the nanoantennas increases by a factor of six, which is promising with respect to the future detection of single molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods
  • Biotin / chemistry
  • Cations
  • Computer Simulation
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology
  • Nanotubes / chemistry
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Streptavidin / chemistry
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / methods*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry

Substances

  • Cations
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Biotin
  • Gold
  • Streptavidin
  • Titanium
  • Oxygen