Localized surface plasmon-enhanced nanosensor platform using dual-responsive polymer nanocomposites

Abstract

The fast and accurate identification of unknown liquids is important for the safety and security of human beings. Recently, sensors based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect demonstrated an outstanding sensitivity in detecting chemical and biological species. In the present study, we suggest that a dual-responsive nanocomposite composed of two polymer brushes and two noble metal nanoparticles provides a significantly improved selectivity (improvement of a factor of 30 in figure-of-merit) for distinguishing diverse liquids compared to a single-responsive LSPR sensor. The dual-responsive LSPR sensor platform was realized by the synergic combinations of two hydrophobic and hydrophilic polymer brushes, which respond differently depending on the degree of interaction between the polymer brushes and the surrounding liquids. Moreover, the mixing ratio of two solvents can also be estimated with high accuracy using the dual-nanocomposite LSPR sensor, suggesting that this approach would be highly practical for in situ process monitoring systems that can instantly detect the change of solvent composition.

Structure–Function Correlations in Sputter Deposited Gold/Fluorocarbon Multilayers for Tuning Optical Response

“…GISAXS yields the statistically pertinent horizontal and vertical correlation information of the changing electron density distribution [23,24] during growth, while GIWAXS can provide information about NPs’ crystallinity and kinetic growth of NPs in polymer [25,26]. UV-Vis spectroscopy has been used to study the optical properties of nanocomposites [27,28]. The optical behavior of the nanocomposite evolves upon metal volume fraction variation due to the rearrangement of the NPs in the polymeric matrix.…”

Plasmonic Gold Decorated MWCNT Nanocomposite for Localized Plasmon Resonance Sensing

“…Chip-based plasmonic platforms are using the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) of gold nanostructures immobilized on a solid substrate and, in this way, measurements can be done in the transmission mode, by using a UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Gold nanostructures alone and gold – polymer nanocomposites have been successfully used by us 1 2 3 4 and other 5 6 7 groups as very sensitive platforms for the detection of biomolecules. On the other hand, biosensors based on Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) alone, in particular, field effect transistors based on semiconducting CNTs have been successfully used for electrochemical detection of protein binding 8 9 .…”

A facile method towards rough morphology polymer brush for increased mobility of embedded nanoparticles

“…As most plasmonic sensors utilizing an ensemble of nanoparticles rely on changes in inter-particle distance to transduce an optical response [29], loading and distribution will undoubtedly determine the sensing performance. At present, nanoparticles in these type of sensors are permanently fixed to the polymer brush chains and their rearrangments are effected by the collapse and swelling of the brush [11,30,31]. Looking ahead, there is prospect in developing chemical and biomolecular sensors with increased sensitivity based on functionalized nanoparticles that are highly mobile within the polymer matrix, enabling rearrangments triggered by specific chemical or biomolecular interactions.…”