In
this study, a high-performance fiber optic surface plasmon resonance
(FO-SPR) sensor using a dome array with nanogaps (DANG) is proposed
for label-free real-time detection of biomolecules. A novel and simple
method using polymer beads enables high sensitivity by allowing hotspots
with nanometer spacing between the Au dome and the surrounding film.
The nanodome structure, which comprises a polymer core and a Au shell,
induces a localized surface plasmon, expands the sensing area, and
extensively enhances the electromagnetic field. The refractive index
sensitivity of the FO-SPR sensor with nanostructures, i.e., with nanogaps
and nanodomes, was found to be 7.8 times higher than that of the FO-SPR
sensor without nanostructures. The proposed sensor achieved a low
detection limit of 38 fg/mL while quantifying thyroglobulin antibody–antigen
interactions and exhibited excellent selectivity. In addition, it
helped detect serum samples with a 103% recovery rate.