Laura B Sagle
Researcher, USA
Title: Current Challenges And Approaches For Improved Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensing
Biography
Biography: Laura B Sagle
Abstract
Biosensing utilizing Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) offers relatively inexpensive, label-free, facile detection that is amenable to on-chip devices. Such devices can provide exquisite sensitivity at a low cost and should prove extremely useful in resource limited environments. However, several challenges remain, such as: sensitivity to small molecule binding, specificity in complex biological solutions, detection of membrane-associated species and integration into on-chip devices. This presentation will highlight recent advances in LSPR-based biosensing devices developed in the Sagle group to overcome these limitations. One study we have done to increase sensitivity is an assay in which gold nanostars are aggregated upon addition of an analyte. Due to increased surface area of contact, a large decrease in Kd and limit of detection in the attomolar range was observed with this simple aggregation assay. In addressing the second challenge, we have incorporated shape complementarity on the nanoparticle surface to carry out size-selective biosensing with improved selectivity. The third challenge is tackled through the development of a novel plasmonic platform containing a solid supported lipid bilayer so that label-free measurements of membrane associated species can be carried out. This device is shown to have improved sensitivity over existing platforms. Lastly, large-scale patterning of the nanoparticle arrays enabling the interfacing of these arrays with microfluidic, on-chip devices are also presented.