Dielectrophoresis-enhanced plasmonic sensing with gold nanohole arrays

Nano Lett. 2014;14(4):2006-12. doi: 10.1021/nl500149h. Epub 2014 Mar 27.

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate dielectrophoretic concentration of biological analytes on the surface of a gold nanohole array, which concurrently acts as a nanoplasmonic sensor and gradient force generator. The combination of nanohole-enhanced dielectrophoresis, electroosmosis, and extraordinary optical transmission through the periodic gold nanohole array enables real-time label-free detection of analyte molecules in a 5 μL droplet using concentrations as low as 1 pM within a few minutes, which is more than 1000 times faster than purely diffusion-based binding. The nanohole-based optofluidic platform demonstrated here is straightforward to construct, applicable to both charged and neutral molecules, and performs a novel function that cannot be accomplished using conventional surface plasmon resonance sensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Electroosmosis / instrumentation
  • Electrophoresis / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / analysis*
  • Serum Albumin, Bovine / isolation & purification
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Serum Albumin, Bovine
  • Gold