Multifunctional plasmonic micro/nanobeads for sensitive suspension array assay and mass spectrometry analysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Plasmonic micro/nanobeads possess unique localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties.
• LSPR enables applications in sensitive assays and mass spectrometry.
• Existing methods for plasmonic bead preparation can be complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile method for preparing magnetic plasmonic micro/nanobeads.
• To enhance sensitivity in bioassays and mass spectrometry analysis.
• To create multifunctional plasmonic nanomaterials for advanced sample analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification.
• Employed polydopamine (PDA)-assisted in-situ reduction for shell formation.
• Incorporated Fe3O4 nanoparticles for magnetic responsiveness.

Main Results:

• Achieved magnetic plasmonic micro/nanobeads with controllable plasmonic shell coverage.
• Demonstrated enhanced fluorescence detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and deoxyribonucleotide (DNA) with significantly improved detection limits.
• Successfully utilized plasmonic nanobeads as matrices for matrix-assisted laser deposition/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of low molecular weight biomolecules.

Conclusions:

• The developed method offers a general strategy for designing multifunctional plasmonic micro/nanomaterials.
• The magnetic plasmonic beads facilitate efficient separation and enhance detection sensitivity.
• These materials hold promise for advancing analytical techniques in various fields.