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Assembly of Gold Nanorods into Chiral Plasmonic Metamolecules Using DNA Origami Templates
Published on: March 5, 2019
Plasmon-based nanolenses assembled on a well-defined DNA template
Sébastien Bidault1, F Javier García de Abajo, Albert Polman
1Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. sebastien.bidault@normalesup.org
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|February 13, 2008
Summary
Researchers synthesized gold nanoparticle groupings on DNA templates for enhanced Raman scattering. This method achieves single-molecule sensitivity by creating nanolenses with tunable particle sizes for optimized field enhancement.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Plasmonics
- Biomolecular Engineering
Background:
- Controlled synthesis of noble metal nanoparticle groupings is crucial for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with single-molecule sensitivity.
- DNA templates offer a precise platform for assembling nanostructures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a facile synthesis of gold nanoparticle groupings with controlled interparticle gaps on a DNA template.
- To investigate the potential for optimizing plasmonic field enhancement for SERS applications.
Main Methods:
- Hybridizing monoconjugated gold-DNA building blocks of varying sizes (5, 8, and 18 nm).
- Utilizing DNA as a scaffold for precise nanoparticle arrangement.
- Employing Generalized Mie Theory to estimate electromagnetic field enhancements.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized gold nanoparticle groupings on a DNA template with nanometer interparticle gaps.
- Estimated local intensity enhancements up to 4 orders of magnitude.
- Calculated that particle size and curvature tuning can optimize and localize maximum enhancement.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized gold nanoparticle groupings on DNA function as plasmon-based nanolenses.
- This biomolecularly assembled system allows for functionalization near regions of highest field enhancement.
- The approach is promising for developing ultrasensitive SERS substrates.
