Chemically selective sensing through layer-by-layer incorporation of biorecognition into thin film substrates for surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering

In this work, the fabrication, characterization, and application of avidin/Ag nanoparticle layer-by-layer (LbL) films as chemically selective substrates for surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) is demonstrated. The biospecific interaction between avidin and the small molecule biotin, one of the strongest known to exist in nature, is exploited to preferentially capture biotinylated species from solution. This highly favored adsorption is shown to yield SERRS concentration enhancements and improved detection sensitivities of ca. 102 for commercially available and in situ prepared biotinylated species over their nontagged counterparts.