Nanopore blockade sensors for ultrasensitive detection of proteins in complex biological samples.

Nanopore sensors detect individual species passing through a nanoscale pore. This experimental paradigm suffers from long analysis times at low analyte concentration and non-specific signals in complex media. These limit effectiveness of nanopore sensors for quantitative analysis.

Monolayer surface chemistry enables 2-colour single molecule localisation microscopy of adhesive ligands and adhesion proteins.

Nanofabricated and nanopatterned surfaces have revealed the sensitivity of cell adhesion to nanoscale variations in the spacing of adhesive ligands such as the tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). To date, surface characterisation and cell adhesion are often examined in two separate experiments so that the localisation of ligands and adhesion proteins cannot be combined in the same image. Here we developed self-assembled monolayer chemistry for indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces for single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM).

A rapid readout for many single plasmonic nanoparticles using dark-field microscopy and digital color analysis.

The integration of plasmonic nanoparticles into biosensors has the potential to increase the sensitivity and dynamic range of detection, through the use of single nanoparticle assays. The analysis of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of plasmonic nanoparticles has allowed the limit of detection of biosensors to move towards single molecules. However, due to complex equipment or slow analysis times, these technologies have not been implemented for point-of-care detection.

Thermoresponsive plasmonic core-satellite nanostructures with reversible, temperature sensitive optical properties.

Herein is described a facile method for the assembly of plasmonic gold nanoparticles into smart plasmonic core-satellite nanostructures that allow for the dynamic and reversible tuning of the localised surface plasmon resonance using temperature. This smart system takes advantage of the thermoresponsive polymer linker that modulates the gap distance between the core and satellites in response to the temperature, resulting in the tuning of the surface plasmon coupling and resultant optical shift. It permits optical shifts over a wide wavelength range and reversible control of the optical properties by altering the temperature, which may allow these systems to become candidates for temperature sensitive nanosensors.

Simple Method for Tuning the Optical Properties of Thermoresponsive Plasmonic Nanogels.

We report a straightforward way for forming and tuning the optical properties of thermally responsive plasmonic nanogels. Upon functionalization, a small red shift (2-3 nm) of the pNIPAM@AuNPs was observed due to changes in the refractive index surrounding the AuNP. By adding thermoresponsive poly--isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) into the pNIPAM@AuNP, its optical response was significantly increased.