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Performance of Nanoplasmonic Biosensors

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Nanoplasmonic Sensors

Part of the book series: Integrated Analytical Systems ((ANASYS))

Abstract

This chapter aims to give an overview of how to optimize the performance of nanoplasmonic sensors. Specific biosensing challenges beyond the capability of current nanoplasmonic sensors will be discussed. Various methods to improve sensor performance will then be introduced, including solving issues related to surface chemistry. We distinguish the concept of signal enhancement, which is related to the choice of nanostructure and surface functionalization, from the concept of noise minimization, which is related to the spectroscopy techniques employed. The concepts of bulk sensitivity, figure of merit, nanostructure performance, and their relation to detection limit are discussed in detail.

The most important points addressed are:

  • The challenges which require the development of nanoplasmonic sensors with better performance are diverse in nature. Different improvements will solve different problems.

  • More effort needs to be put into improving surface functionalization for specific binding, especially if nanoplasmonic sensors are to be useful in medical diagnostics.

  • The sensing performance of a plasmonic nanostructure is best defined in terms of relative intensity changes (e.g., extinction in absorbance units) per refractive index change, because this is what is measured by optical spectroscopy. The signals upon local changes in refractive index also depend on the extension of the plasmonic field.

  • In most sensing situations, except single nanoparticle/hole analysis or imaging applications, extinction spectroscopy in transmission mode will outperform scattering spectroscopy under dark-field illumination.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Bionanophotonics, Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Andreas B. Dahlin

  2. Division of Biological Physics, Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Magnus P. Jonsson

Authors
  1. Andreas B. Dahlin
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  2. Magnus P. Jonsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas B. Dahlin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Fysikgränd 3, Göteborg, 412 96, Sweden

    Alexandre Dmitriev

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Dahlin, A.B., Jonsson, M.P. (2012). Performance of Nanoplasmonic Biosensors. In: Dmitriev, A. (eds) Nanoplasmonic Sensors. Integrated Analytical Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3933-2_10

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