In situ assembly, regeneration and plasmonic immunosensing of a Au nanorod monolayer in a closed-surface flow channel

Herein, a simple and effective approach is reported for the in situ generation and regeneration of a Au nanorod (AuNR) monolayer inside a glass/silica-based, closed-surface flow channel. The density of the AuNR monolayer in the flow channel can be easily modified by varying the concentration of the AuNR and the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as well as the incubation time. The fabricated AuNR monolayer in the flow channels was stable under harsh conditions, such as in extreme pH, organic solvents and at a fast flow rate. In addition, the flow channel could be reused by removing the immobilized AuNRs via the injection of diluted aqua regia or potassium iodide; the AuNR monolayer can subsequently be regenerated. The AuNRs in the closed flow channel were further exploited as a label-free detection method for a clinical biomarker, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), based on single-nanoparticle plasmonic assay. The corresponding limit of detection for NGAL was measured to be 8.5 ng mL(-1) (~340 pM) based on a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The estimated recovery of NGAL in human serum and urine was higher than 80%, which indicates that this technique could potentially be used for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury.