SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Bioengineering have developed a plasmonic swarm biosensing platform for molecular detection based on single nanoparticle imaging to improve quantitative accuracy with simple instrumentation.
BACKGROUND
Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is a near-field phenomenon that is used to detect biomolecules. While a lot of research progress has been reported for the development of nanoplasmonic sensors, few have reached commercialization for point-of-care diagnostics due to the challenge of achieving robust performance with compact instrumentation. Conventional nanoplasmonic detection measuring the ensemble signal from nanoparticles compromises detection sensitivity and introduces random noise. In addition, existing technologies for single nanoparticle based sensing requires bulky and expensive setup, and suffers from low throughput. Therefore, there is a need for a nanoplasmonic biosensor that has a simple setup, robust performance and compatible with high throughput formats for increased quantitative accuracy.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers in the Department of Bioengineering have developed a colorimetric, plasmonic swarm biosensing platform that detects analyte based on the change in plasmonic signal (i.e., hue) from thousands of single nanoparticle sensors. The sensor surface is composed of a monodispersed, single nanoparticles spread over an optically transparent surface. Upon reaction, the hue of each individual nanoparticle changes from green to orange that is easily detected using low-cost dark field imaging setup. This nanoplasmonic swarm sensing platform provides an alternative to conventional ensemble based LSPR detection with a much smaller footprint, more cost-effectiveness, and statistically improved quantitative accuracy. Furthermore, the methodology of swarm sensing is versatile, and could be adapted by other types of single entity based sensors with sensing modality beyond LSPR.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
- Protein biomarker detection
- Genetic biomarker detection
- Single entity based detection
- Point-of-care
- Multiplex panel detection
ADVANTAGES
- Improved quantitative accuracy
- Simple and compact readout
- No blocking step needed for complex biofluid detection
- Low sample volume
- Rapid/parallel analysis
- Cost-effectiveness
- Versatile molecule analysis methodology
RELATED MATERIALS
STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT
This platform demonstrated a limit of detection of 10 pM with a dynamic range of at least 4 orders of magnitude in buffer solution, and the successful detection of c-reactive protein (CRP) in serum compatible with 3-tier clinical cutoffs within a 10-fold difference without the need for a blocking step.