Enhanced bioaffinity sensing using surface plasmons, surface enzyme reactions, nanoparticles and diffraction gratings

This paper introduces a novel approach to surface bioaffinity sensing based on the adsorption of nanoparticles onto a gold diffraction grating that supports the excitation of planar surface plasmons. A surface enzymatic amplification reaction is also incorporated into the detection scheme to enhance the sensitivity and utility of the nanoparticle-enhanced diffraction grating (NEDG) sensors. As a demonstration, the detection of microRNA is described where a combination of a surface polymerase reaction and DNA-modified nanoparticles is used to detect the bioaffinity adsorption of the target onto the probe-functionalized gold grating surface. The enzymatically-amplified NEDG sensors possess a great potential for a wide range of applications including the detection of biosecurity agents, DNA and RNA viruses, biomarkers, and proteins.     

Submicrometer cavity surface plasmon sensors

A miniaturized spherical surface plasmon sensor for measuring the binding kinetics of unlabeled molecules is introduced. The sensor has a submicrometer footprint with a sensitivity that rivals that of state-of-the-art commercial planar surface plasmon sensors, which makes it valuable for applications requiring integration of detection of molecular species in microfluidic channels. The basic principle of the sensor is exploiting the wavelength shifts of the cavity resonances of a metal-coated submicrometer sphere embedded in an opaque metal film due to molecular adsorption. The sensor has been found to be exquisitely responsive in air to water and ethanol vapor adsorption on the bare gold sensor surface. When immersed in a liquid, the sensor can detect the adsorption of less than one monolayer of dodecanethiol (approximately 1.5 nm) on the gold coating of the sphere.     

Adsorption kinetics of an engineered gold binding Peptide by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and a quartz crystal microbalance

The adsorption kinetics of an engineered gold binding peptide on gold surface was studied by using both quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy systems. The gold binding peptide was originally selected as a 14-amino acid sequence by cell surface display and then engineered to have a 3-repeat form (3R-GBP1) with improved binding characteristics. Both sets of adsorption data for 3R-GBP1 were fit to Langmuir models to extract kinetics and thermodynamics parameters. In SPR, the adsorption onto the surface shows a biexponential behavior and this is explained as the effect of bimodal surface topology of the polycrystalline gold substrate on 3R-GBP1 binding. Depending on the concentration of the peptide, a preferential adsorption on the surface takes place with different energy levels. The kinetic parameters (e.g., K(eq) approximately 10(7) M(-1)) and the binding energy (approximately -8.0 kcal/mol) are comparable to synthetic-based self-assembled monolayers. The results demonstrate the potential utilization of genetically engineered inorganic surface-specific peptides as molecular substrates due to their binding specificity, stability, and functionality in an aqueous-based environment.     

反应物的变化对吸附相反应技术制备NiO/SiO2的影响

以SiO2为载体,研究反应物种类和浓度对吸附相反应技术制备NiO粒子的影响。首先采用滴定法测定了各个反应物在载体表面的吸附过程,利用TEM、XRD分析,对比了不同反应物制备得到的NiO粒子的形貌。在确定了反应物的基础上,进一步设计了2种水量下制备实验,研究反应物浓度对粒子形貌的影响。XRD结果表明,1.0mL水量下NiO粒子的晶粒粒径随着反应物浓度增加先缓慢减少后增大。而随反应物浓度增加,5.0mL水量得到的粒子晶粒粒径则一直变大。2种吸附层中不同的反应速率使得相同条件下,高水量(5.0mL)得到的NiO粒子粒径要小于1.0mL水量下得到的粒子。物理吸附层中形成的粒子与载体结合力较弱,使得焙烧后5.0mL水量下得到的粒子在SiO2上分布不均匀。     

Aligned nanogold assisted one step sensing and removal of heavy metal ions

We depict a novel strategy exploiting the chemistry of metal ion adsorption for detection and sequestration of toxic heavy metal from processed water using gold nanoparticles capped with 4-aminothiophenol. The interaction between 4-aminothiophenol capped gold nanoparticles and heavy metal ions was studied as a function of time and concentration using TEM, HRTEM, SEM, EDS, and I-V characterization. Experiments confirmed that pH is one of the crucial controlling parameters. Adsorption capacity was monitored using AAS, UV-vis spectroscopy and I-V measurement. In the absence of any alloy formation between Au and heavy metal ions, the desorption of the heavy metal ions from 4-aminothiophenol capped gold nanoparticles surface by pH modulation serves as a mean of collection of heavy metal ions. Experiments revealed that the concentration of heavy metal ions in processed water after adsorption is below the maximum permissible limit set by the WHO.     

Mechanism of gold metal ion reduction, nanoparticle growth and size control in aqueous amphiphilic block copolymer solutions at ambient conditions

Spontaneous formation and efficient stabilization of gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 7 approximately 20 nm from hydrogen tetrachloroaureate(III) hydrate (HAuCl4.3H2O) were achieved in air-saturated aqueous poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO) block copolymer solutions at ambient temperature in the absence of any other reducing agent. The particle formation mechanism is considered here on the basis of the block copolymer concentration dependence of absorption spectra, the time dependence (kinetics) of AuCl4- reduction, and the block copolymer concentration dependence of particle size. The effects of block copolymer characteristics such as molecular weight (MW), PEO block length, PPO block length, and critical micelle concentration (cmc) are explored by examining several PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers. Our observations suggest that the formation of gold nanoparticles from AuCl4- comprises three main steps: (1) reduction of metal ions by block copolymer in solution, (2) absorption of block copolymer on gold clusters and reduction of metal ions on the surface of these gold clusters, and (3) growth of metal particles stabilized by block copolymers. While both PEO and PPO blocks contribute to the AuCl4- reduction (step 1), the PEO contribution appears to be dominant. In step 2, the adsorption of block copolymers on the surface of gold clusters takes place because of the amphiphilic character of the block copolymer (hydrophobicity of PPO). The much higher efficiency of particle formation attained in the PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer systems as compared to PEO homopolymer systems can be attributed to the adsorption and growth processes (steps 2 and 3) facilitated by the block copolymers. The size of the gold nanoparticles produced is dictated by the above mechanism; the size increases with increasing reaction activity induced by the block copolymer overall molecular weight and is limited by adsorption due to the amphiphilic character of the block copolymers.     

An XPS and STM study of the size effect in NO adsorption on gold nanoparticles

The effect of the gold particle size, temperature of the model gold catalyst, and NO pressure on the composition of the adsorption layer was studied by in situ XPS and STM methods. Adsorption of nitric oxide was carried out on gold nanoparticles with a mean size of 2?C7 nm prepared on the thin film surface of alumina. In high-vacuum conditions (P _NO ?? 10^?5 Pa), only atomically adsorbed nitrogen is formed on the surface of gold nanoparticles. At about 1 Pa pressure of NO and in the temperature range from 325 to 475 K, atomically adsorbed nitrogen coexists with the N₂O adsorption complex. The surface concentration of the adsorbed species changes with a change in both the mean gold particle size and adsorption temperature. The saturation coverage of the surface with the nitrogen-containing complexes is observed for the sample with a mean size of gold particles of 4 nm. The surface of these samples is mainly covered with atomically adsorbed nitrogen, the saturation coverage of adsorbed nitrogen of about ??0.6 monolayer is attained at T = 473 K. The change in the composition of the adsorption layer with temperature of the catalysts agrees with the literature data on the corresponding temperature dependence of the selectivity of N₂ formation observed in the catalytic reduction of NO with carbon monoxide on the Au/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The dependences of the composition of the adsorption layer on the mean size of Au nanoparticles (size effect) and temperature of the catalyst are explained by the sensitivity of NO adsorption to specific features of the gold surface.     

Facile Synthesis of Multi-Branched Gold Nanostructures through a TBAB-Assisted Route in Aqueous Solution and Their SERS Property

Facile synthesis of multi‐branched gold nanostructures by using the tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) as a capping agent is described. The reaction is carried out in a one‐step process at mild temperature. Gold nanostructures with more than six sharp branches ranging from 70 to 130 nm in length are synthesized in high yield. It is proposed that the relative weak adsorption capacity of TBAB leads to the incompletely covered gold surface and the growth of nanoparticles occurs on the uncovered gold surface, and therefore short branches appear consequently. Then positively charged TBAB layers on the gold surfaces prevent the branches from aggregating with each other which stimulates the branch growth. The prepared branched gold nanoparticles show efficient surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. Low temperature (4°C) is unfavorable to the formation of multi‐branched gold nanostructures, and only thin small irregular plate‐like nanoparticles are produced. The addition of SDS in TBAB aqueous solution results in forming SDS micelles at much lower concentration of SDS (0.4 mmol/L) as compared to that in pure water, and short branched gold nanoparticles are obtained in the SDS‐TBAB system.     

Aerobic oxidation of alcohol in aqueous solution catalyzed by gold

The heterogeneous oxidation catalyzed by supported gold nanoparticles has been relatively well studied. In comparison, the oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by ligand-supported gold complexes was rarely reported. Herein a general method is demonstrated to oxidize secondary and primary benzyl and allylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds via Au(I) catalyzed reaction in air and water. Primary mechanistic studies indicated that the catalytic pathway is different from those catalyzed by solid-supported gold nanoparticles.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of the light induced formation of gold nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2

The kinetics of the formation of gold nanoparticles on the surface of pre-illuminated TiO(2) have been investigated using stopped-flow technique and steady state UV/Vis spectroscopy. Excess electrons were loaded on the employed nanosized titanium dioxide particles by UV-A photolysis in the presence of methanol serving as hole scavenger, stored on them in the absence of oxygen and subsequently used for the reduction of Au(III) ions. The formation of gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 5 nm was confirmed after mixing of the TiO(2) nanoparticles loaded with electrons with aqueous solution of tetrachloroaureate (HAuCl(4)) by their surface plasmon absorbance band at 530 nm, as well as by XRD and HRTEM measurements. The rate of formation of the gold nanoparticles was found to be a function of the concentration of the gold ions and the concentration of the stored electrons, respectively. The effect of PVA as a stabilizer of the gold nanoclusters was also studied. The observed kinetic behavior suggests that the formation of the gold nanoparticles on the TiO(2) surface is an autocatalytic process comprising of two main steps: 1) Reduction of the gold ions by the stored electrons on TiO(2) forming gold atoms that turn into gold nuclei. 2) Growth of the metal nuclei on the surface of TiO(2) forming the gold particles. Interestingly, at higher TiO(2) electron loading the excess electrons are subsequently transferred to the deposited gold metal particles resulting in "bleaching" of their surface plasmon band. This bleaching in the surface plasmon band is explained by the Fermi level equilibration of the Au/TiO(2) nanocomposites. Finally, the reduction of water resulting in the evolution of molecular hydrogen initiated by the excess electrons that have been transferred to the previously formed gold particles has also been observed. The mechanism of the underlying multistep electron-transfer process has been discussed in detail.     

Surfactantless photochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles on an optical fiber core for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes based on gold nanoparticles modifying the core of the optical fiber were made by a surfactantless photochemical deposition method. The growth kinetics and shape evolution of gold nanoparticles depending on different experimental conditions were studied. It was found that, under the condition of detectable gold nanoparticle deposition, increasing the concentration of chloroauric acid (HAuCl(4)) was not conducive to the deposition whereas increasing the concentration of sodium citrate (Na(3)Ct) would speed up the deposition. By controlling the concentration of the reaction solution and irradiation time, we obtained fused spherical-like, spherical, and flowerlike gold nanoparticles. To test the SERS activity of the probes, the SERS spectra of a rhodamine 6G aqueous solution were recorded in direct detection mode and remote mode. We have also developed a new approach to improving the SERS sensitivity when detecting in remote mode.     

Linking the Gold Nanoparticles Formation Kinetics with Their Morphology

In this paper, we show that using different concentrations of reagents, it is possible to produce gold nanoparticles with different morphology (size, shape). The color of obtained colloidal gold change from pink, violet to blue, and it corresponds to the shape change. The pink color corresponds to spherical nanoparticles and the blue one to a star shape. The mixture of those two types of nanoparticles result in a violet tone. It was also shown that kinetics of nucleation and growth process is controlled by the reaction on the gold atoms surface, i.e., comproportionation of Au(III) and Au(0) to Au(I), which can be inhibited by varying precursor and reductant concentration.     

Kinetics of gold nanoparticle aggregation: experiments and modeling

We investigate the aggregation kinetics of gold nanoparticles using both experimental techniques (i.e., quasi-elastic light scattering, UV-visible spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy) and mathematical modeling (i.e., constant-number Monte Carlo). Aggregation of gold nanoparticles is induced by replacing the surface citrate groups with benzyl mercaptan. We show that the experimental results can be well described by the model in which interparticle interactions are described by the classical DLVO theory. We find that final gold nanoparticle aggregates have a fractal structure with a mass fractal dimension of 2.1-2.2. Aggregation of approximately 11 initial gold nanoparticles appears to be responsible for the initial color change of suspension. This kinetic study can be used to predict the time required for the initial color change of a gold nanoparticle suspension and should provide insights into the design and optimization of colorimetric sensors that utilize aggregation of gold nanoparticles.     

Solution ionic strength effect on gold nanoparticle solution color transition

Unmodified and modified gold nanoparticles are proposed as sensors using the red to blue transition as an indicator. This work indicates that ionic content is an important variable to track in analytical samples and during the sensor fabrication processes. Mono and multivalent salts where the titrants for a standard gold nanoparticle solution. Multivalent cation salt titrants exhibited a greater sensitivity to color change than monovalent cation salts. The data suggest that specific surface adsorption is the predominant mechanism for the red to blue color change not aggregation. The 3-7 nm Debye length for divalent cations versus the 0.5-1.5 nm for monovalent cations indicates surface electrodynamic resonance effects are an important factor in the observed color changes.     

Sensitive turn-on fluorescent detection of melamine based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer

We here report a novel fluorescent method for the detection of melamine based on the high fluorescence quenching ability of gold nanoparticles. The fluorescence was significantly quenched via fluorescence resonance energy transfer when fluorescein molecules were attached to the surface of gold nanoparticles by electrostatic interaction. Upon addition of melamine, the fluorescence was enhanced due to the competitive adsorption of gold nanoparticles between melamine and fluorescein. Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence enhancement efficiency [(I-I(0))/I(0)] showed a linear relationship with the concentration of melamine in the range of 1.0 × 10(-7) mol L(-1)~4.0 × 10(-6) mol L(-1), and the detection limit was calculated to be 1.0 × 10(-9) mol L(-1). The proposed method showed several advantages such as high sensitivity, short analysis time, low cost and ease of operation.     

Epinephrine Oxidation in the Presence of Interfering Molecules on Gold and Gold Electrodes modified with Gold Nanoparticles and Thiodipropionic Acid in Aqueous Solution. A Comparative Study

Thiodipropionoc acid (TDPA), cysteamine (CA) and gold nanoparticles (Au‐NPs) modified gold pure electrodes have been applied in voltammetric sensors for simultaneous detection of epinephrine (EP), ascorbic (AA) and uric (UA) acids. Modified electrodes with self assembled layers (SAMs) show high selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility and stability. A linear relationship between the epinephrine concentration and the current response is obtained in the range of 0.1 μM to 0.65 μM with the detection limit ≤0.065 μM for the electrodes modified at 2D surface and in the range of 0.1 μM to 0.75 μM with the detection limit ≤0.082 μM for the electrodes modified at the 3D surface.     

Universal Strategy for Improving the Sensitivity of Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds by Patterned Arrays

The diffusion of target analytes is a determining factor for the sensitivity of a given gas sensor. Surface adsorption results in a low‐concentration region near the sensor surface, producing a concentration gradient perpendicular to the surface, and drives a net flux of molecules toward solid reactive reagents on the sensor surface, that is, vertical diffusion. Here, organic semiconductor supramolecules were patterned into micromeshed arrays to integrate vertical and horizontal diffusion pathways. When used as a gas sensor, these arrays have an order of magnitude higher sensitivity than traditional film‐based sensors. The sensor sensitivity ramp down with the increase in coverage density of reactive reagents, yielding two linear regions demarcated by 0.3 coverage, which are identified by the experimental results and simulations. The universal nature of template‐assisted patterning allows adjustments in the composition, size, and shape of the constituent material, including nanofibers, nanoparticles, and molecules, and thus serves to improve the sensitivity of gas sensors for detecting various volatile organic compounds.     

纳米金对荧光素的荧光增效作用

纳米金对荧光素的荧光效率具有增强作用,其增强效果取决于纳米金的尺寸大小和浓度。粒径分别为5、15、25 nm的纳米金与不同浓度的荧光素溶液作用后可以增强荧光强度3~10倍,同时讨论了溶液环境和pH值对荧光增强的影响。采用本实验提出的方法可以在生化检测方面提高荧光检测方法的灵敏度。     

Metal Nanoparticles on Polymer Surfaces: 3. Adsorption Kinetics of Gold Hydrosol Particles on Polystyrene and Poly(2-vinylpyridine)

The adsorption of gold hydrosol nanoparticles on the surfaces of polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine) was studied using two techniques, quartz crystal microgravimetry and atomic force microscopy. The resultant experimental data indicated that the kinetics of this process is controlled by the diffusion. The nanoparticle adsorption, up to rather high polymer surface coverages (35%), is irreversible.