Physics and Astronomy Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2018
Journal
ACS Sensors
Volume
3
Issue
2
First Page
334
Last Page
341
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.7b00736
Abstract
A plasmonic sensing system that allows the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) by individual waveguide modes is presented conceptually and experimentally. Any change in the local environment of the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) alters the degree of coupling between LSPR and a polymer slab waveguide, which then modulates the transmission-output signal. In comparison to conventional LSPR sensors, this system is less susceptible to optical noise and positional variation of signals. Moreover, it enables more freedom in the exploitation of plasmonic hot spots with both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. Through real-time measurement, it is demonstrated that the current sensing system is more sensitive than comparable optical fiber plasmonic sensors. The highest normalized bulk sensitivity (7.744 RIU-1) is found in the TM1 mode. Biosensing with the biotin-streptavidin system shows that the detection limit is on the order of 10-14 M of streptavidin. With further optimization, this sensing system can easily be mass-produced and incorporated into high throughput screening devices, detecting a variety of chemical and biological analytes via immobilization of the appropriate recognition sites.
