Time-Resolved Thickness and Shape-Change Quantification using a Dual-Band Nanoplasmonic Ruler with Sub-Nanometer Resolution
Journal article, 2022

Time-resolved measurements of changes in the size and shape of nanobiological objects and layers are crucial to understand their properties and optimize their performance. Optical sensing is particularly attractive with high throughput and sensitivity, and label-free operation. However, most state-of-the-art solutions require intricate modeling or multiparameter measurements to disentangle conformational or thickness changes of biomolecular layers from complex interfacial refractive index variations. Here, we present a dual-band nanoplasmonic ruler comprising mixed arrays of plasmonic nanoparticles with spectrally separated resonance peaks. As electrodynamic simulations and model experiments show, the ruler enables real-time simultaneous measurements of thickness and refractive index variations in uniform and heterogeneous layers with sub-nanometer resolution. Additionally, nanostructure shape changes can be tracked, as demonstrated by quantifying the degree of lipid vesicle deformation at the critical coverage prior to rupture and supported lipid bilayer formation. In a broader context, the presented nanofabrication approach constitutes a generic route for multimodal nanoplasmonic optical sensing.

supported lipid bilayer

nanorulers

biosensors

biomolecules

nanoplasmonic sensors

conformation

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Published in

ACS Nano

1936-0851 (ISSN) 1936-086X (eISSN)

Vol. 16 Issue 10 p. 15814-15826

Research Project(s)

Rambidrag inom utlysningen "Materials Science 2015"

Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) (RMA15-0052), 2016-05-01 -- 2021-06-30.

Categorizing

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Physical Chemistry

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Other Physics Topics

Infrastructure

Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory

Identifiers

DOI

10.1021/acsnano.2c04948

PubMed

36083800

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Latest update

3/7/2024 9