Single gold nanowire-based nanosensor for adenosine triphosphate sensing by using in-situ surface-enhanced Raman...

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Sensing

Background:

• Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) requires optimized "hot spots" for enhanced sensitivity.
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a crucial biomarker for various biological processes.
• Developing selective and sensitive sensors for ATP is vital for diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a single gold nanowire (AuNW)-based nanosensor for in-situ SERS detection of ATP.
• To investigate the sensing mechanism based on the specific interaction between ATP aptamers and DNA.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of single AuNWs using laser-assisted pulling and HF etching.
• Immobilization of DNA on AuNWs, followed by the attachment of Au/Ag nanoparticles functionalized with ATP aptamers and Raman dyes.
• Detection of ATP using in-situ SERS, observing changes in Raman signals upon target binding.

Main Results:

• The single AuNW-based nanosensor demonstrated strong SERS signals.
• Upon ATP binding, Au/Ag nanoparticles detached, causing a significant decrease in Raman signals.
• The sensor exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for ATP detection.

Conclusions:

• A novel single AuNW-based nanosensor was successfully developed for ATP detection.
• The designed affinity-based separation mechanism enables sensitive and selective ATP sensing.
• This platform is suitable for real-world applications, including trace detection, single-cell analysis, and in vivo studies.