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Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology

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A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 52197

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Dr. Samir Kumar

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Guest Editor

Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
Interests: nano/bio-photonics; SERS; nanofabrication; bio/chemical sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Sungkyu Seo

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Guest Editor

Department of Electronics and Information Engineering, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Korea
Interests: bio photonics; sensor system; bio sensor; bioelectronics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite contributions to this Special Issue covering Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology. Plasmonics is the study of surface plasmons produced by the coupling of incident light with electrons, forming a wave that is bound to the surface of the metal. The intense fields created by plasmons can dramatically enhance various light–matter interactions such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and lead to significant localized heating in metallic nanostructures, known as thermoplasmonics. Plasmonics has found its applications in nanotechnology, biophotonics, sensing, biochemistry, and medicine. This Special Issue of Biosensors focuses on the theory and fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures, patterned surfaces, and devices for bio-sensing applications (such as photothermal conversion), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF), total internal reflection (TIR), and SERS-based biosensors.

We welcome contributions to this Special Issue in the form of reviews, full-length articles, and communications. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
Fabrication of novel plasmonic nanomaterials with intriguing properties for nanoplasmonics and nanophotonic sensors;
Hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles and chiral plasmonic nanoparticles;
2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) material monolayers for biosensing applications;
Thermoplasmonics and optofluidics biosensors;
Applications in micro- and nanodevices, as well as materials and biomedical sciences

Dr. Samir Kumar
Prof. Dr. Sungkyu Seo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

SERS
plasmonics
thermoplasmonics
optofluidics
sensors
biophotonics

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

8 pages, 249 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology

by Samir Kumar and Sungkyu Seo

Biosensors 2023, 13(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13030385 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3175

Abstract

Plasmonics is the study of surface plasmons formed by the interaction of incident light with electrons to form a surface-bound electromagnetic wave [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

Research

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12 pages, 2787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Screening and Evaluation of Thiamethoxam Aptamer Based on Pressurized GO-SELEX and Its Sensor Application

by Yaqi Yue, De Zhang, Kangfei Tian, Dejiang Ni, Fei Guo, Zhi Yu, Pu Wang and Pei Liang

Biosensors 2023, 13(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13020155 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2689

Abstract

Thiamethoxam, a nicotinic pesticide used worldwide, can cause great harm to the environment and even to human health, and aptamers, known as chemical antibodies, have high affinity and specificity for the target, as well as great potential in detecting small molecules such as pesticides. In this paper, we report a highly sensitive biosensor system for thiamethoxam residue detection based on aptamer technology. After 15 rounds of screening with the pressurized GO-SELEX technology, we found that the aptamer libraries of the 5th and 9th rounds showed high affinity by the capture method. Four candidate aptamers were obtained by high-throughput sequencing and secondary structure prediction. Among them, the aptamer named Thi-5R-18 from the 5th round was demonstrated to possess the highest affinity by isothermal titration calorimetry, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 4.935 × 10⁻⁵ M. The results of molecular docking showed that thiamethoxam and Thi-5R-18 were combined with bases G-15, A-19, and T-71 through hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction.Thi-5R-18 was used as a recognition element to construct a AuNPs colorimetric aptasensor, achieving an ultralow detection limit of 0.37 nM. More importantly, this colorimetric aptasensor can be used for quantitative detection of thiamethoxam on tea leaves, with a recovery of 96.94%~105.86%. This study provides a highly sensitive biosensor for detection of thiamethoxam residue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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11 pages, 1417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative SERS Detection of TBBPA in Electronic Plastic Based on Hydrophobic Cu-Ag Chips

by Pei Dai, Xianzhi Huang, Yaqian Cui and Lihua Zhu

Biosensors 2022, 12(10), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12100881 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1963

Abstract

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was one of the most widely used brominated flame retardants. However, it easily contaminates nature and harms the environment and human health during its production and use. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly control the content of TBBPA in electronics. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has the advantages of being fast and sensitive, but it is difficult to obtain the SERS spectra of TBBPA because the hydrophobic TBBPA molecule is difficult to approach with the hydrophilic surface of common noble metal SERS substrates. In the present work, a hydrophobic Cu-Ag chip was developed for the SERS detection of TBBPA. The integration of the hydrophobic interaction and the Ag-Br bonding promoted the adsorption of TBBPA on the Cu-Ag chip, allowing for SERS detection. It was observed that both the hydrophobicity and bimetallic composition of the Cu-Ag chip played important roles in the SERS detection of TBBPA. Under the optimized conditions, the low limit of detection of the established SERS method for TBBPA was 0.01 mg L⁻¹, within a linear range of 0.1–10 mg L⁻¹. Combined with ultrasonic-assisted extraction, the substrate could be used for the quantitative determination of TBBPA in electronic products. Compared with the HPLC-UV method used as a national standard, the relative error of the SERS method for quantifying the TBBPA content in a mouse cable and shell was ±3% and ±7.7%, respectively. According to the SERS results, the recovery of TBBPA in the spiked mouse shell was 95.6%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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12 pages, 5309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Interplay between Lossy Mode Resonance and Surface Plasmon Resonance and Their Sensing Applications

by Deependra Singh Gaur, Ankit Purohit, Satyendra Kumar Mishra and Akhilesh Kumar Mishra

Biosensors 2022, 12(9), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12090721 - 4 Sep 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2634

Abstract

Conducting metal oxide (CMO) supports lossy mode resonance (LMR) at the CMO-dielectric interface, whereas surface plasmon resonance (SPR) occurs at the typical plasmonic metal-dielectric interface. The present study investigates these resonances in the bi-layer (ITO + Ag) and tri-layer (ITO + Ag + ITO) geometries in the Kretschmann configuration of excitation. It has been found that depending upon the layer thicknesses one resonance dominates the other. In particular, in the tri-layer configuration of ITO + Ag + ITO, the effect of the thickness variation of the sandwiched Ag layer is explored and a resonance, insensitive to the change in the sensing medium refractive index (RI), has been reported. Further, the two kinds of RI sensing probes and the supported resonances have been characterized and compared in terms of sensitivity, detection accuracy and figure of merit. These studies will not only be helpful in gaining a better understanding of underlying physics but may also lead to the realization of biochemical sensing devices with a wider spectral range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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11 pages, 1542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Immunochromatographic Assay for the Rapid and Qualitative Detection of Mercury in Rice

by Shuai Lv, Xinxin Xu, Shanshan Song, Liguang Xu, Liqiang Liu, Chuanlai Xu and Hua Kuang

Biosensors 2022, 12(9), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12090694 - 28 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2157

Abstract

Mercury is a major pollutant in food crops. In this study, we synthesized an anti-mercury monoclonal antibody (mAb; IC₅₀ was 0.606 ng mL⁻¹) with high sensitivity and specificity and different immunogens and coating antigens and developed an immuno-chromatographic assay (ICA) for the detection of mercury in rice. The ICA strip had a visible detection limit of 20 ng g⁻¹ and a cut-off value of 500 ng g⁻¹ in rice. The performance of the ICA strip was consistent with that of ICP-MS and ic-ELISA. The recoveries of mercury in rice ranged from 94.5% to 113.7% with ic-ELISA and from 93.6% to 116.45% with ICP-MS. Qualitative analysis by ICA can be obtained with the naked eye. The ICA strip is an effective and practical method for the rapid and high-throughput determination of mercury in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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7 pages, 1793 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Wafer-Scale LSPR Substrate: Oblique Deposition of Gold on a Patterned Sapphire Substrate

by Kihyeun Kim, Ki Joong Lee, Na Rae Jo, Eun-Jung Jo, Yong-Beom Shin and Min-Gon Kim

Biosensors 2022, 12(3), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12030158 - 3 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3137

Abstract

Label-free detection of biomolecules using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) substrates is a highly attractive method for point-of-care (POC) testing. One of the remaining challenges to developing LSPR-based POC devices is to fabricate the LSPR substrates with large-scale, reproducible, and high-throughput. Herein, a fabrication strategy for wafer-scale LSPR substrates is demonstrated using reproducible, high-throughput techniques, such as nanoimprint lithography, wet-etching, and thin film deposition. A transparent sapphire wafer, on which SiO₂-nanodot hard masks were formed via nanoimprint lithography, was anisotropically etched by a mixed solution of H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄, resulting in a patterned sapphire substrate (PSS). An LSPR substrate was finally fabricated by oblique deposition of Au onto the PSS, which was then applied to label-free detection of the binding events of biomolecules. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first report on the application of the PSS used as an LSPR template by obliquely depositing a metal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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Review

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37 pages, 6740 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Trends in SERS-Based Plasmonic Sensors for Disease Diagnostics, Biomolecules Detection, and Machine Learning Techniques

by Reshma Beeram, Kameswara Rao Vepa and Venugopal Rao Soma

Biosensors 2023, 13(3), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13030328 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 10068

Abstract

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy/scattering (SERS) has evolved into a popular tool for applications in biology and medicine owing to its ease-of-use, non-destructive, and label-free approach. Advances in plasmonics and instrumentation have enabled the realization of SERS’s full potential for the trace detection of biomolecules, disease diagnostics, and monitoring. We provide a brief review on the recent developments in the SERS technique for biosensing applications, with a particular focus on machine learning techniques used for the same. Initially, the article discusses the need for plasmonic sensors in biology and the advantage of SERS over existing techniques. In the later sections, the applications are organized as SERS-based biosensing for disease diagnosis focusing on cancer identification and respiratory diseases, including the recent SARS-CoV-2 detection. We then discuss progress in sensing microorganisms, such as bacteria, with a particular focus on plasmonic sensors for detecting biohazardous materials in view of homeland security. At the end of the article, we focus on machine learning techniques for the (a) identification, (b) classification, and (c) quantification in SERS for biology applications. The review covers the work from 2010 onwards, and the language is simplified to suit the needs of the interdisciplinary audience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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42 pages, 9685 KiB

Open AccessReview

GLAD Based Advanced Nanostructures for Diversified Biosensing Applications: Recent Progress

by Sarjana Yadav, Sneha Senapati, Samir Kumar, Shashank K. Gahlaut and Jitendra P. Singh

Biosensors 2022, 12(12), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12121115 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3803

Abstract

Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) is a technique for the fabrication of sculpted micro- and nanostructures under the conditions of oblique vapor flux incident and limited adatom diffusion. GLAD-based nanostructures are emerging platforms with broad sensing applications due to their high sensitivity, enhanced optical and catalytic properties, periodicity, and controlled morphology. GLAD-fabricated nanochips and substrates for chemical and biosensing applications are replacing conventionally used nanomaterials due to their broad scope, ease of fabrication, controlled growth parameters, and hence, sensing abilities. This review focuses on recent advances in the diverse nanostructures fabricated via GLAD and their applications in the biomedical field. The effects of morphology and deposition conditions on GLAD structures, their biosensing capability, and the use of these nanostructures for various biosensing applications such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and colorimetric- and wettability-based bio-detection will be discussed in detail. GLAD has also found diverse applications in the case of molecular imaging techniques such as fluorescence, super-resolution, and photoacoustic imaging. In addition, some in vivo applications, such as drug delivery, have been discussed. Furthermore, we will also provide an overview of the status of GLAD technology as well as future challenges associated with GLAD-based nanostructures in the mentioned areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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24 pages, 4028 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biomedical Applications of an Ultra-Sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Based on Smart MXene Quantum Dots (SMQDs)

by Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi, Seyyed Alireza Hashemi, Masoomeh Yari Kalashgrani, Vahid Rahmanian, Ahmad Gholami, Wei-Hung Chiang and Chin Wei Lai

Biosensors 2022, 12(9), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12090743 - 9 Sep 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4555

Abstract

In today’s world, the use of biosensors occupies a special place in a variety of fields such as agriculture and industry. New biosensor technologies can identify biological compounds accurately and quickly. One of these technologies is the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the development of biosensors based on their optical properties, which allow for very sensitive and specific measurements of biomolecules without time delay. Therefore, various nanomaterials have been introduced for the development of SPR biosensors to achieve a high degree of selectivity and sensitivity. The diagnosis of deadly diseases such as cancer depends on the use of nanotechnology. Smart MXene quantum dots (SMQDs), a new class of nanomaterials that are developing at a rapid pace, are perfect for the development of SPR biosensors due to their many advantageous properties. Moreover, SMQDs are two-dimensional (2D) inorganic segments with a limited number of atomic layers that exhibit excellent properties such as high conductivity, plasmonic, and optical properties. Therefore, SMQDs, with their unique properties, are promising contenders for biomedicine, including cancer diagnosis/treatment, biological sensing/imaging, antigen detection, etc. In this review, SPR biosensors based on SMQDs applied in biomedical applications are discussed. To achieve this goal, an introduction to SPR, SPR biosensors, and SMQDs (including their structure, surface functional groups, synthesis, and properties) is given first; then, the fabrication of hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) based on SMQDs and the biomedical applications of SMQDs are discussed. In the next step, SPR biosensors based on SMQDs and advanced 2D SMQDs-based nanobiosensors as ultrasensitive detection tools are presented. This review proposes the use of SMQDs for the improvement of SPR biosensors with high selectivity and sensitivity for biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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37 pages, 11294 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Silver Nanostructured Substrates for Plasmonic Sensors

by Shashank K. Gahlaut, Anisha Pathak and Banshi D. Gupta

Biosensors 2022, 12(9), 713; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12090713 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7114

Abstract

Noble metal nanostructures are known to confine photon energies to their dimensions with resonant oscillations of their conduction electrons, leading to the ultrahigh enhancement of electromagnetic fields in numerous spectroscopic methods. Of all the possible plasmonic nanomaterials, silver offers the most intriguing properties, such as best field enhancements and tunable resonances in visible-to-near infrared regions. This review highlights the recent developments in silver nanostructured substrates for plasmonic sensing with the main emphasis on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) over the past decade. The main focus is on the synthesis of silver nanostructured substrates via physical vapor deposition and chemical synthesis routes and their applications in each sensing regime. A comprehensive review of recent literature on various possible silver nanostructures prepared through these methodologies is discussed and critically reviewed for various planar and optical fiber-based substrates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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17 pages, 4017 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in DNA Nanotechnology for Plasmonic Biosensor Construction

by Jeong Ah Park, Chaima Amri, Yein Kwon, Jin-Ho Lee and Taek Lee

Biosensors 2022, 12(6), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12060418 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3756

Abstract

Since 2010, DNA nanotechnology has advanced rapidly, helping overcome limitations in the use of DNA solely as genetic material. DNA nanotechnology has thus helped develop a new method for the construction of biosensors. Among bioprobe materials for biosensors, nucleic acids have shown several advantages. First, it has a complementary sequence for hybridizing the target gene. Second, DNA has various functionalities, such as DNAzymes, DNA junctions or aptamers, because of its unique folded structures with specific sequences. Third, functional groups, such as thiols, amines, or other fluorophores, can easily be introduced into DNA at the 5′ or 3′ end. Finally, DNA can easily be tailored by making junctions or origami structures; these unique structures extend the DNA arm and create a multi-functional bioprobe. Meanwhile, nanomaterials have also been used to advance plasmonic biosensor technologies. Nanomaterials provide various biosensing platforms with high sensitivity and selectivity. Several plasmonic biosensor types have been fabricated, such as surface plasmons, and Raman-based or metal-enhanced biosensors. Introducing DNA nanotechnology to plasmonic biosensors has brought in sight new horizons in the fields of biosensors and nanobiotechnology. This review discusses the recent progress of DNA nanotechnology-based plasmonic biosensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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Other

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18 pages, 2928 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Highly Sensitive Flexible SERS-Based Sensing Platform for Detection of COVID-19

by Seyyed Mojtaba Mousavi, Seyyed Alireza Hashemi, Vahid Rahmanian, Masoomeh Yari Kalashgrani, Ahmad Gholami, Navid Omidifar and Wei-Hung Chiang

Biosensors 2022, 12(7), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios12070466 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4211

Abstract

COVID-19 continues to spread and has been declared a global emergency. Individuals with current or past infection should be identified as soon as possible to prevent the spread of disease. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an analytical technique that has the potential to be used to detect viruses at the site of therapy. In this context, SERS is an exciting technique because it provides a fingerprint for any material. It has been used with many COVID-19 virus subtypes, including Deltacron and Omicron, a novel coronavirus. Moreover, flexible SERS substrates, due to their unique advantages of sensitivity and flexibility, have recently attracted growing research interest in real-world applications such as medicine. Reviewing the latest flexible SERS-substrate developments is crucial for the further development of quality detection platforms. This article discusses the ultra-responsive detection methods used by flexible SERS substrate. Multiplex assays that combine ultra-responsive detection methods with their unique biomarkers and/or biomarkers for secondary diseases triggered by the development of infection are critical, according to this study. In addition, we discuss how flexible SERS-substrate-based ultrasensitive detection methods could transform disease diagnosis, control, and surveillance in the future. This study is believed to help researchers design and manufacture flexible SERS substrates with higher performance and lower cost, and ultimately better understand practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasmonic Sensors: A New Frontier in Nanotechnology)

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