51С»Æ³µ

Abstract:
Novel requirements for bioanalytical methods are raised by emerging trends such as personalized medicine or pathogen detection in environment and food. Here, novel tools for diagnostics are needed, to be used outside of dedicated laboratories and with less qualified personnel, and with minimal costs. Plasmonic nanostructures promise to provide sensing capabilities with the potential for ultrasensitive and robust assays in a high parallelization. Upon binding of molecules, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of these structure is changed, and can be used as sensoric readout. We present here the use of individual nanostructures for the detection and manipulation of biomolecules such as DNA based on optical approaches. 

Holes in a Cr layer present an interesting approach for bioanalytics. They are used to detect even single plasmonic nanoparticles as labels or to sense the binding of DNA on these particles. This hybrid system of hole and particle allows for simple (just using RGB-signals of a CCD) but a highly sensitive (one nanoparticle sensitivity) detection. Moreover, the binding of a molecular layer around the particles can be detected using spectroscopic features of just an individual particle.

The change in LSPR of individual metal nanoparticles is utilized to monitor the binding of DNA directly or via DNA-DNA interaction. The influence of different size (length) as well as position (distance to the particle surface) is thereby studied using a dark-field approach devleoped a century ago.

Besides sensing, individual plasmonic nanostructures can be also used to manipulate biomolecular structures such as DNA. Attached particles can be used for local destruction or cutting as well as coupling of energy into (and guiding along) the molecular structure.

Lunch will be provided.
Hosted by: James Vesenka, PhD