Effect of adsorbate electrophilicity and spiky uneven surfaces on single gold nanourchin-based localized surface plasmon resonance sensors

Formulation and clinical advancement of nanourchins: a novel multibranched nanoparticulate drug-delivery system

Nanourchins are multibranched nanoparticles with unique optical properties and surface spikes. Because of their unique properties, gold nanourchins have advantages over gold nanoparticles. The most used nanourchins are gold, tungsten, carbon, vanadium and sea urchins. The synthesis of various nanourchins and their clinical advancement are discussed in this review. ZFNs, TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 are discussed to facilitate understanding of advancements in nanourchins. Nanourchins have been studied for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and bioimaging. The synthesis of molybdenum diselenide nanourchins and their bioconjugations are also discussed. Nanourchins can be further explored to improve drug targeting and delivery. Researchers from several fields may contribute to the study of nanourchins as prospective nanocarriers with target specificity.

Enhanced detection sensitivity of the chemisorption of pyridine and biotinylated proteins at localized surface plasmon resonance inflection points in single gold nanorods

Plasmonic gold nanoparticles have been widely used for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing. Herein, we investigate the enhanced sensitivity for the detection of the chemisorption of pyridine and biotinylated bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins, which are important molecules widely used in biological studies, at the inflection points (IFs) of the LSPR scattering spectra of single gold nanorods (AuNRs). The results showed that the homogeneous LSPR IFs located at the long wavelength side (or low energy side) of the LSPR scattering peak exhibited the highest sensitivity for the detection of chemical adsorption with respect to the counterpart LSPR peak maxima. The increased sensitivity can be attributed to the shape change of the LSPR peak when the local refractive index is increased by chemisorption. Furthermore, real-time monitoring of molecular binding events on single AuNRs was performed after introducing pyridine in water, and an improved efficiency of the sensors was observed at the LSPR IFs to detect target molecules in single AuNRs. Therefore, we present the significance of tracking curvature shapes through homogeneous LSPR IFs close to the resonance energy upon chemical adsorption of pyridine and BSA-biotin, rather than tracking their counterpart LSPR maximum peak shifts, for AuNRs.

In situ reversible tuning of chemical interface damping in single gold nanorod-based recyclable platforms through manipulation of supramolecular host-guest interactions

Recently, chemical interface damping (CID) has been proposed as a new plasmon damping pathway based on interfacial hot-electron transfer from metal to adsorbate molecules. It has been considered essential, owing to its potential implications in efficient photochemical processes and sensing experiments. However, thus far, studies focusing on controlling CID in single gold nanoparticles have been very limited, and in situ reversible tuning has remained a considerable challenge. In these scanning electron microscopy-correlated dark-field spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory calculations, cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-based host–guest supramolecular interactions were employed to examine and control the CID process using monoamine-functionalized CB[7] (CB[7]-NH₂) attached to single gold nanorods (AuNRs). In situ tuning of CID through the CB[7]–oxaliplatin complexation, which can result in the variation of the chemical nature and electronic properties of adsorbates, was presented. In addition, in situ tuning of CID was demonstrated through the competitive release of the oxaliplatin guest from the oxaliplatin@CB[7] complex, which was then replaced by a competitor guest of spermine in sufficient amounts. Furthermore, nuclear magnetic resonance experiments confirmed that the release of the guest is the consequence of adding salt (NaCl). Thus, in situ reversible tuning of CID in single AuNRs was achieved through successive steps of encapsulation and release of the guest on the same AuNR in a flow cell. Finally, single CB[7]-NH₂@AuNRs were presented as a recyclable platform for CID investigations after the complete release of guest molecules from their host–guest inclusion complexes. Therefore, this study has paved a new route to achieve in situ reversible tuning of CID in the same AuNR and to investigate the CID process using CB-based host–guest chemistry with various guest molecules in single AuNRs for efficient hot-electron photochemistry and biosensing applications.

This study has paved a new route to achieve in situ reversible tuning of chemical interface damping (CID) in the same gold nanorod (AuNR) and to investigate the CID process using cucurbituril (CB)-based host–guest chemistry with various guest molecules in single AuNRs.

Recent Progress in Optical Sensors for Biomedical Diagnostics

In recent years, several types of optical sensors have been probed for their aptitude in healthcare biosensing, making their applications in biomedical diagnostics a rapidly evolving subject. Optical sensors show versatility amongst different receptor types and even permit the integration of different detection mechanisms. Such conjugated sensing platforms facilitate the exploitation of their neoteric synergistic characteristics for sensor fabrication. This paper covers nearly 250 research articles since 2016 representing the emerging interest in rapid, reproducible and ultrasensitive assays in clinical analysis. Therefore, we present an elaborate review of biomedical diagnostics with the help of optical sensors working on varied principles such as surface plasmon resonance, localised surface plasmon resonance, evanescent wave fluorescence, bioluminescence and several others. These sensors are capable of investigating toxins, proteins, pathogens, disease biomarkers and whole cells in varied sensing media ranging from water to buffer to more complex environments such as serum, blood or urine. Hence, the recent trends discussed in this review hold enormous potential for the widespread use of optical sensors in early-stage disease prediction and point-of-care testing devices.

Tuning Chemical Interface Damping: Interfacial Electronic Effects of Adsorbate Molecules and Sharp Tips of Single Gold Bipyramids

The optimization of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-decaying channels of hot-electrons is essential for efficient optical and photochemical processes. Understanding and having the ability to control chemical interface damping (CID) channel contributions will bring about new possibilities for tuning the efficiency of plasmonic hot-electron energy transfer in artificial devices. In this scanning electron microscopy-correlated dark-field scattering study, the CID was controlled by focusing on the electronic nature of disubstituted benzene rings acting as adsorbates, as well as the effects of sharp tips on gold bipyramids (AuBPs) with similar aspect ratios to those of gold nanorods. The results showed that the sharp tips on single AuBPs, as well as the electronic effects of the adsorbate molecules, increase the interfacial contact between the nanoparticles and adsorbate molecules. Electron withdrawing groups (EWGs) on the adsorbates induce larger homogeneous LSPR line widths compared to those of electron donating groups (EDGs). Depending on the location (ortho, meta, and para) of the EDG, the effect of benzene rings with an EDG, which was considered to be induced by sulfur atoms bound to the nanoparticle surface, is weakened by the back transfer of electrons facilitated by the difference in the availability of the electrons of the EDG. Therefore, this study reports that the CID in the LSPR total decay channels can be tuned by controlling the electron withdrawing and electron donating features of adsorbate molecules with the surface topology of metal.

Plant Biomarker Recognition by Molecular Imprinting Based Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Array: Performance Improvement by Enhanced Hotspot of Au Nanostructure

Detection of plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) enables monitoring of pests and diseases in agriculture. We previously revealed that a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor coated with a molecularly imprinted sol-gel (MISG) can be used for cis-jasmone vapor detection. Although the selectivity of the LSPR sensor was enhanced by the MISG coating, its sensitivity was decreased. Here, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were doped in the MISG to enhance the sensitivity of the LSPR sensor through hot spot generation. The size and amount of AuNPs added to the MISG were investigated and optimized. The sensor coated with the MISG containing 20 μL of 30 nm AuNPs exhibited higher sensitivity than that of the sensors coated with other films. Furthermore, an optical multichannel sensor platform containing different channels that were bare and coated with four types of MISGs was developed to detect plant VOCs in single and binary mixtures. Linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and naïve Bayes classifier approaches were used to establish plant VOC identification models. The results indicated that the KNN model had good potential to identify plant VOCs quickly and efficiently (96.03%). This study demonstrated that an LSPR sensor array coated with a AuNP-embedded MISG combined with a pattern recognition approach can be used for plant VOC detection and identification. This research is expected to provide useful technologies for agricultural applications.