Preparation and characterization of thin films of SiO(x) on gold substrates for surface plasmon resonance studies

We report here on the fabrication and characterization of stable thin films of amorphous silica (SiO(x)) deposited on glass slides coated with a 5 nm adhesion layer of titanium and 50 nm of gold, using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The resulting surfaces were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). AFM analysis indicates that homogeneous films of silica with low roughness were formed on the gold surface. The deposited silica films showed excellent stability in different solvents and in piranha solution. There was no significant variation in the thickness or in the SPR signal after these harsh treatments. The Au/SiO(x) interfaces were investigated for their potential applications as new surface plasmon resonance sensor chips. Silica films with thicknesses up to 40 nm allowed visualization of the surface plasmon effect, while thicker films resulted in the loss of the SPR characteristics. SPR allowed further the determination of the silica thickness and was compared to ellipsometric results. Chemical treatment of the SiO(x) film with piranha solution led to the generation of silanol surface groups that have been coupled with a trichlorosilane.     

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance study of streptavidin film structure effects on biotinylated DNA assembly and target DNA hybridization

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy is employed for the study of biotinylated DNA assembly on streptavidin modified gold surfaces for target DNA hybridization. Two immobilization strategies are involved for constructing streptavidin films, namely, (1) physical adsorption on biotin-containing thiol treated surfaces through biotin-streptavidin links and (2) covalent attachment to 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) treated surfaces through amine coupling. To understand the structural properties of the streptavidin films, a quartz crystal microbalance with energy dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) is used to monitor the streptavidin immobilization procedures. The simultaneously measured frequency (Deltaf) and dissipation factor (DeltaD) changes, together with the SPR angle shifts (Deltatheta), suggest that the streptavidin film assembled on the biotin-containing surface is highly rigid with a well-ordered structure while the streptavidin film formed through amine coupling is highly dissipative and less structured. The subsequent biotinylated DNA (biotin-DNA) assembly and target hybridization results show that the streptavidin film structure has distinct effects on the biotin-DNA binding amount. On the streptavidin matrix, not only the probe DNA density but also the strand orientation mediated by the streptavidin films has distinct effects on hybridization efficiency. Particularly, the molecularly ordered streptavidin films formed on the biotin-containing surfaces ensure a well-ordered DNA assembly, which in turn allows for a higher efficiency in target DNA capture and for a higher sensitivity in the hybridization analysis when compared to the biotin-DNA assembled on the less structured streptavidin films formed through amine coupling.     

纳米多孔金薄膜的表面等离子体共振传感特性

对淀积在玻璃衬底上厚度约60 nm的金银合金溅射薄膜进行硝酸腐蚀脱银处理, 得到纳米多孔金薄膜. 利用自建的波长检测型表面等离子体共振(SPR)传感装置研究了腐蚀时间对纳米多孔金薄膜SPR特性的影响, 结果发现纳米多孔金薄膜与水溶液接触后在400-900 nm光谱范围内不具有SPR效应, 而当薄膜置于空气中时会产生明显的传播等离子体共振吸收峰, 其共振波长随腐蚀时间增加逐渐红移. 纳米多孔金薄膜在空气气氛中的SPR效应使其能够用于原位监测气相分子在孔内的吸附, 还可对在液相中吸附的生化分子进行离位测试. 本文对L-谷胱甘肽、L-半胱氨酸、2-氨基乙硫醇三种含巯基的生化小分子在纳米多孔金薄膜内的吸附进行了离位分析, 结果表明与传统的致密金薄膜SPR芯片比较, 纳米多孔金薄膜对这些分子显示出更高的灵敏度和更低的检测下限, 这归功于多孔金的大比表面积使其能够吸附大量的生化小分子. 实验还对乙醇蒸气在纳米多孔金薄膜内的吸附进行了原位监测, 发现吸附平衡所用时间较长, 约为160 min.     

Stability of the gold/silica thin film interface: electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance studies

This article reports chemical stability studies of a gold film electrode coated with thin silicon oxide (SiOx) layers using electrochemical, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Silica films with different thicknesses (d = 6.4, 9.7, 14.5, and 18.5 nm) were deposited using a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (PECVD). For SiOx films with d >/= 18.5 nm, the electrochemical behavior is characteristic of a highly efficient barrier for a redox probe. SiOx films with thicknesses between 9.5 and 14.5 nm were found to be less efficient barriers for electron transfer. The Au/SiOx interface with 6.4 nm of SiOx, however, showed an enhanced steady-state current compared to that of the other films. The stability of this interface in solutions of different pH was investigated. Whereas a strongly basic solution led to a continuous dissolution of the SiOx interface, acidic treatment produced a more reticulated SiOx film and improved electrochemical behavior. The electrochemical results were corroborated by SPR measurements in real time and AFM studies.     

Transmission surface-plasmon resonance (T-SPR) measurements for monitoring adsorption on ultrathin gold island films

Evaporation of ultrathin (1.3-10 nm nominal thickness) gold films onto quartz or mica leads to the formation of a layer of rather uniform gold islands on the transparent support. The morphology of ultrathin gold island films of various thicknesses was studied by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The surface plasmon (SP) absorption characteristic of such films is highly sensitive to the surrounding medium, with the plasmon band changing in intensity and wavelength upon binding of various molecules to the surface. The binding process can be monitored quantitatively by measuring the changes in the gold SP absorption, by using transmission UV/Vis spectroscopy. The method, termed transmission surface plasmon resonance (T-SPR) spectroscopy, is shown to be applicable to both chemically and physically adsorbed molecules, in liquid or gas phase, with measurements carried out either ex situ or in situ (real-time measurements) using a variety of molecular probes. Binding to a preformed molecular layer on the Au surface produces a similar response, suggesting the possible use of T-SPR for selective sensing. The sensitivity of T-SPR spectroscopy in detecting molecular binding to the gold depends strongly on the film preparation conditions, and may be comparable to that obtained in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing.     

Surface plasmon resonance imaging studies of protein-carbohydrate interactions

Carbohydrate arrays fabricated on gold films were used to study carbohydrate-protein interactions with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging. An immobilization scheme consisting of the formation of a surface disulfide bond was used to attach thiol-modified carbohydrates onto gold films and to fabricate carbohydrate arrays. The carbohydrate attachment steps were characterized using polarization modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy; and poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannels were used to immobilize probe compounds at discrete locations on a gold film. The binding of the carbohydrate-binding proteins concanavalin A (ConA) and jacalin to arrays composed of the monosaccharides mannose and galactose was monitored with SPR imaging. SPR imaging measurements were employed to accomplish the following: (i) construct adsorption isotherms for the interactions of ConA and jacalin to the carbohydrate surfaces, (ii) monitor protein binding to surfaces presenting different compositions of the immobilized carbohydrates, and (iii) measure the solution equilibrium dissociation constants for ConA and jacalin toward mannose and galactose, respectively. Adsorption coefficients (K(ADS)) of 2.2 +/- 0.8 x 10(7) M(-)(1) and 5.6 +/- 1.7 x 10(6) M(-)(1) were obtained for jacalin adsorbing to a galactose surface and ConA adsorbing to a mannose surface, respectively. The solution equilibrium dissociation (K(D)) constant for the interaction of jacalin and galactose was found to be 16 +/- 5 microM, and for ConA and mannose was found to be 200 +/- 50 microM.     

Carbon-on-metal films for surface plasmon resonance detection of DNA arrays

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging affords label-free monitoring of biomolecule interactions in an array format. A surface plasmon conducting metal thin film is required for SPR measurements. Gold thin films are traditionally used in SPR experiments as they are readily functionalized with thiol-containing molecules through formation of a gold-sulfur bond. The lability of this gold-thiol linkage upon exposure to oxidizing conditions and ultraviolet light renders these surfaces incompatible with light-directed synthetic methods for fabricating DNA arrays. It is shown here that applying a thin carbon overlayer to the gold surface yields a chemically robust substrate that permits light-directed synthesis and also supports surface plasmons. DNA arrays fabricated on these carbon-metal substrates are used to analyze two classes of biomolecular interactions: DNA-DNA and DNA-protein. This new strategy allows the combinatorial study of binding interactions directly from native, unmodified biomolecules of interest and offers the possibility of discovering new ligands in complex mixtures such as cell lysates.     

Theoretical analysis of gold-deposited optical fiber sensor and characterization of the gold film.

Gold-deposited optical fiber sensors with film thicknesses from 30 to 60 nm were prepared, and the responses to a wide range of a refractivity (1.33-1.54 refractive index (RI) units) were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The response curve of the sensor has two minima in the refractivity range from 1.33 to 1.44 and at 1.462 RI units. The former minimum is due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the thin gold film, and shifts to a lower refractivity as the film becomes thicker. The response curves of the sensors with film thicknesses of 45 and 60 nm agreed well with those calculated from SPR theoretical equations. Morphology observations of the surfaces of deposited gold films on glass by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a variation in resistance of the films with various thicknesses show the structure of the gold films. We concluded that the thin deposited gold films have many defects, and that the core of the gold-deposited optical fiber leaks light through the defects to the sample solution with the same refractivity (1.462 RI units) as that of the core.     

A surface plasmon resonance study on the optical properties of gold nanoparticles on thin gold films

We report on an investigation of the optical properties of gold nanoparticles assembled as thin films of different thickness. The nanoparticles were linked to the surface of a gold chip by dithiol reagents and studied by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. There is good correlation between the experimental findings and theoretical simulation, and the respective data reveal the presence of ordered nanostructures in the assemblies. The shift in the SPR angle is linearly dependent on the particle size and the ratio of the different particles. SPR spectroscopy also reveals important information in terms of the optical constants of such films. This shall be further applied to in-situ quality control in the fabrication of optoelectronic, solar cell and semiconductor devices.

Electrochemical Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy at Bilayered Silver/Gold Films

Bilayered silver/gold films (gold deposited on top of the silver film) were used as substrates for electrochemical surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (EC-SPR). EC-SPR responses of electrochemical deposition/stripping of copper and redox-induced conformation changes of cytochrome c immobilized onto self-assembled monolayers preformed at these substrates were measured. Influence of the Ag layer thickness and the double-layer capacitance on the EC-SPR behavior was investigated. The results demonstrated that the bilayered Ag/Au metal films produce a sharper SPR dip profile than pure Au films and retain the high chemical stability of Au films. Contrary to the result by the Fresnel calculation that predicts a greater fraction of Ag in the bilayered film should result in a greater signal-to-noise ratio, the EC-SPR sensitivity is dependent on both the Ag/Au thickness ratio and the chemical modification of the surface. Factors affecting the overall SPR sensitivity at the bilayered films, such as the film morphology, potential-induced excess surface charges, and the adsorbate layer were investigated. Forming a compact adsorbate layer at the bilayered film diminishes the effect of potential-induce excess surface charges on the SPR signal and improves the overall EC-SPR sensitivity. For the case of redox-induced conformation changes of cytochrome c, the SPR signal obtained at the bilayered silver/gold film is 2.7 times as high as that at a pure gold film.     

The preparation and characterization of poly(o-phenylenediamine)/gold nanoparticles interface for immunoassay by surface plasmon resonance and electrochemistry

The poly-o-phenylenediamine (PoPD) nonconducting film and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were combined to fabricate AuNPs/PoPD film, which is used as a novel biocompatible interface for the immobilization of antibody and develop a simple and sensitive label-free immunoassay for the detection of the related antigen (human immunoglobulin G (IgG)). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical methods were used to provide the real-time information about the polymer film growth, assembling of various sizes of gold nanoparticles, anti-human IgG antibody (anti-hIgG) immobilization and the antigen–antibody interaction. The microstructures of the PoPD and AuNPs/PoPD films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). These results demonstrated that AuNPs were uniformly dispersed on the porous surface of PoPD film, which formed a nano-structure biocompatible AuNPs/PoPD interface. The use of gold nanoparticles and PoPD film could enhance the immunoassay sensitivity and anti-nonspecific property of the resulting immunoassay electrode. Additionally, the reproducibility and preliminary application of anti-hIgG/AuNPs/PoPD/Au electrode for SPR detection of hIgG was also evaluated.     

A comparative analysis of localized and propagating surface plasmon resonance sensors: the binding of concanavalin a to a monosaccharide functionalized self-assembled monolayer

A comparative analysis of the properties of two optical biosensor platforms: (1) the propagating surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a planar, thin film gold surface and (2) the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor based on surface confined Ag nanoparticles fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL) are presented. The binding of Concanavalin A (ConA) to mannose-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was chosen to highlight the similarities and differences between the responses of the real-time angle shift SPR and wavelength shift LSPR biosensors. During the association phase in the real-time binding studies, both SPR and LSPR sensors exhibited qualitatively similar signal vs time curves. However, in the dissociation phase, the SPR sensor showed an approximately 5 times greater loss of signal than the LSPR sensor. A comprehensive set of nonspecific binding studies demonstrated that this signal difference was not the consequence of greater nonspecific binding to the LSPR sensor but rather a systematic function of the Ag nanoparticle's nanoscale structure. Ag nanoparticles with larger aspect ratios showed larger dissociation phase responses than those with smaller aspect ratios. A theoretical analysis based on finite element electrodynamics demonstrates that this results from the characteristic decay length of the electromagnetic fields surrounding Ag nanoparticles being of comparable dimensions to the ConA molecules. Finally, an elementary (2 x 1) multiplexed version of an LSPR carbohydrate sensing chip to probe the simultaneous binding of ConA to mannose and galactose-functionalized SAMs has been demonstrated.     

Development of an X-ray detector using surface plasmon resonance

A new X-ray detector using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is proposed. The detector consists of a prism coated with a thin metal film and semiconductor film. Optical laser pulse induces SPR condition on the metal surface, and synchronized X-ray pulse which is absorbed into the semiconductor film can be detected by measuring the change of the resonance condition of the surface plasmon. The expected time and spatial resolution of this detector is better than that of conventional X-ray detectors by combining this SPR measurement with ultra-short laser pulse as the probe beam. Our preliminary investigation using Au and ZnSe coated prism implies this scheme works well as the detector for the ultra-short X-ray pulse.     

Triggering blue-red transition response in polydiacetylene vesicles: an electrochemical surface plasmon resonance method

Electrochemical surface plasmon resonance (E-SPR) was used to investigate whether the chromic properties of a polydiacetylene (PDA) vesicle films, adsorbed onto an ultra-thin gold electrode, could be triggered by applied potential. This approach constitutes a preliminary model for a novel approach to the use of a triggered chromic transition, as an indicator of biorecognition headgroup binding in these materials. A PDA chromic blue-red transition was identified in E-SPR against the background Deltaepsilon(e) and Deltaepsilon(m). The latter resulted in a ca. 100 mDeg V(-1) shift in the SPR minimum, in the presence of PDA, with the PDA shielding changes in epsilon(e). Electrochemical charge transfer processes in the pre-oxide/oxide anodic region with adsorbed oxygen and hydroxide, involving a change in Au redox state (Au(0)/Au(+)) were visible in the SPR, due to a change in the gold layer thickness and gold oxide layer. However, the cathodic processes, not involving a change in the Au redox state or a increase/decrease in the surface layer dielectric, did not cause a change in the SPR. Based on this, dramatic changes in the optical properties of the adsorbed PDA film could be triggered at an applied cathodic potential, and were identified using SPR. These correlated with a pH-induced chromic transition. Both protonation and ion binding, linked with headgroup environment, were implicated in causing structural transitions in the adsorbed vesicle layer that may also be linked with their bulk optical properties.     

Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles on a Molecular Ultrathin Film: Tuning the Surface Plasmon Resonance

A number of methodologies for immobilizing metal nanoparticles in 2‐dimensional aggregate structures on various substrates, some with concomitant tuning of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), have been reported. Many of them involve special functionalization of the nanoparticles, multiple fabrication steps or lengthy procedures. The present study demonstrates that monolayer Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) film of a hemicyanine‐based amphiphile with cationic headgroup is an easily fabricated platform for harnessing citrate‐stabilized gold nanoparticles. It is shown that a single immersion step can be used to immobilize the nanoparticles uniformly on large area films and that systematic variation of the immersion time from 10 min to 6 h leads to controlled assembly of the particles and tuning of the SPR band over ～100 nm. A model for the structural reorganization in the LB film that facilitates the assembly of nanoparticles is presented and the advantages of the current methodology over earlier protocols are pointed out. The versatility of LB films in terms of the molecular level control of fabrication it enables and the variety of film structures that can be realized, point to the wide scope for future explorations, expanding upon the present observations.     

Detection of adrenaline on poly(3-aminobenzylamine) ultrathin film by electrochemical-surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

In this Article, we present a novel method to detect adrenaline on poly(3-aminobenzylamine) (PABA) ultrathin films by electrochemical-surface plasmon resonance (EC-SPR) spectroscopy. We prepared a PABA film, which specifically reacts with adrenaline, on a gold electrode by electropolymerization of 3-aminobenzylamine. The specific reaction of benzylamine within the PABA structure with adrenaline was studied by XPS, UV-vis spectroscopy, and EC-SPR techniques. Adrenaline was detected in real time by EC-SPR spectroscopy, which provides simultaneous monitoring of both optical SPR reflectivity and electrochemical current responses upon injecting adrenaline into the PABA thin film. The number of changes in both current and SPR reflectivity on the injection of adrenaline exhibited the linear relation to the concentration, and the detection limit was 100 pM. The responses were distinctive to those for uric acid and ascorbic acid, which are major interferences of adrenaline.     

Surface plasmon resonance study on enhanced refractive index change of an Ag ion-sensing membrane containing dithiosquarylium dye

In this study, we have fabricated an Ag⁺ ion-sensing membrane with a dithiosquarylium (DTSQ) dye containing a polymeric film. The selective sensing signal through the electrostatic interaction between the DTSQ dye and the Ag⁺ metal cation was effectively transduced to the refractive index (RI) change corresponding to shifts of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) angle. In addition, a good selective Ag⁺ ion detection appeared in a wide concentration range from 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻¹² M. The resonance angle shift is interpreted with Fresnel equations and Kramers-Kronig relation. In light of these calculations, the enhanced RI increase in this sensing membrane appeared to be caused by the decrease of absorption coefficient of DTSQ dye around the wavelength of SPR probe beam. These results suggest that chromogenic approaches (λ_max control of Ag⁺ ion-sensing membrane with a DTSQ dye by appropriate molecular design) related to SPR phenomena (RI change at the wavelength of probe beam) offer a good strategy for highly sensitive metal ion detection.     

Multiphoton photoemission of self-assembled silver nanocrystals

Silver nanocrystals, self-organized in compact hexagonal networks, on gold and graphite exhibit anisotropic optical properties. From polarized electron photoemission spectroscopy, a two-photon mechanism is demonstrated and an enhancement due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the nanocrystal film is observed. Two SPR peaks appear, due to dipolar interactions and induced by the self-organization of silver nanocrystals. This property is used to probe the substrate effect on the plasmon resonance. Its damping is related to particle–substrate interactions.     

Simplification and evaluation of a gold-deposited SPR optical fiber sensor.

The structure of the sensing element of a gold-deposited optical fiber sensor was simplified and quantitative analyses of various alcohols with the sensor showed improvement of the performance. The sensor uses surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at the interface of a sample solution and a thin (10 - 70 nm) gold film deposited on half of the exposed core of the optical fiber. The sensor with a film thickness of 45 nm can detect a small change of 5.6 x 10(-5) refractive index (RI) units in the refractivity. The response time is less than 0.5 min and the relative standard deviation for measurements is less than or equal to 1%. A straight line with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995 was obtained below 10%, v/v in the calibration curve for methanol solutions of benzyl alcohol. The minimum of the response curve due to the maximum excitation of SPR in the refractivity range from 1.33 to 1.44 RI units shifts to a lower refractivity as the film becomes thicker. The response curves of the sensors were calculated from SPR theoretical equations while considering of the distribution in the thickness of the deposited gold films. The improvement in the performance of the sensor is discussed.     

Surface plasmon resonance and electrochemistry characterization of layer-by-layer self-assembled DNA and Zr4+ thin films, and their interaction with cytochrome c

Through electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly, negatively charged calf thymus double stranded DNA (CTds-DNA), and positively charged Zr⁴⁺ ions were alternately deposited on gold substrate modified with chemisorbed cysteamine. Thus-prepared three-dimensional DNA networks were characterized by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS). SPR spectroscopy indicates that the effective thickness of DNA monolayer in the (DNA/Zr⁴⁺)₁ bilayer was 1.5 ± 0.1 nm, which corresponds to the surface coverage of 79% of its full packed monolayer. At the same time, a linear increase of film thickness with increasing number of layers was also confirmed by SPR characterizations. The data of XPS and IR-RAS show that Zr⁴⁺ ions interact with both the phosphate groups and nitrogenous bases of DNA and load into the framework of DNA. Furthermore, the interactions between this composite film and heme protein cytochrome c (Cyt c) were investigated by SPR spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Compared with the adsorption of Cyt c on DNA monolayer, this composite multilayer film can obviously enhance the amount of immobilized Cyt c confirmed by SPR reflectivity-incident angle (R-θ) curves. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicates the Cyt c adsorbed on the composite film is electroactive, and the enhancement of peak current in CV indirectly verifies the increase of the amount of immobilized Cyt c.