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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
09:13
Plasmonic Trapping and Release of Nanoparticles in a Monitoring Environment
Published on: April 4, 2017
Light-Driven, Phase-Locked Protein Pumping Through a Single Plasmonic Optofluidic Nanopore.
Mohammad Karbalaei Akbari1,2, Kumar Shrestha1,2, Yanbin Cui3
1Department of Solid-State Sciences, Faculty of Science, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|July 3, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a light-driven plasmonic nanopore system that enhances protein transport. The novel optofluidic pump overcomes limitations in low concentration detection for dynamic, light-controlled single-molecule protein analysis.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biophysics
- Optics
Background:
- Protein transport in nanopores is limited by electrical double layers (EDLs) and weak electrophoretic forces at low concentrations.
- Existing methods struggle with efficient analyte manipulation in nanoscale systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a light-driven, phase-locked protein pumping mechanism using plasmonic nanopores.
- To overcome low analyte concentration limitations in nanopore transport.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a ~20 nm plasmonic nanopore in an ultrathin (InxGa1-x)2O3 membrane with Ag nanodomains.
- Utilized 488-530 nm light excitation to generate plasmonic resonances and hot-carrier surface charging.
- Employed static-dynamic fluorescence reconstruction and fluorescence-ionic measurements.
Main Results:
- Achieved significantly increased interfacial EDL capacitance (~220 µF·cm⁻²) and reduced protein entry barrier (<3 kBT).
- Observed a concentration-dependent transition from Brownian diffusion to a photo-EDL conduction column funneling proteins.
- Demonstrated ~10x fluorescence enhancement and increased optical pumping rates under pulsed excitation.
Conclusions:
- Plasmonic nanopores function as programmable optofluidic pumps for dynamic, light-controlled single-molecule protein transport.
- This mechanism enhances protein transport efficiency, particularly at low concentrations.
