Organic semiconductor laser platform for the detection of DNA by AgNP plasmonic enhancement

McConnell, G., Mabbott, S., Kanibolotsky, A. L., Skabara, P. J. , Graham, D., Burley, G. A. and Laurand, N. (2018) Organic semiconductor laser platform for the detection of DNA by AgNP plasmonic enhancement. Langmuir, 34(49), pp. 14766-14773. (doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01313) (PMID:30227713)

Abstract

Organic semiconductor lasers are a sensitive biosensing platform that respond to specific biomolecule binding events. So far, such biosensors have utilized protein-based interactions for surface functionalization but a nucleic acid–based strategy would considerably widen their utility as a general biodiagnostic platform. This manuscript reports two important advances for DNA-based sensing using an organic semiconductor (OS) distributed feedback (DFB) laser. First, the immobilization of alkyne-tagged 12/18-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) probes by Cu-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) or “click-chemistry” onto an 80 nm thick OS laser film modified with an azide-presenting polyelectrolyte monolayer is presented. Second, sequence-selective binding to these immobilized probes with complementary ODN-functionalized silver nanoparticles, is detected. As binding occurs, the nanoparticles increase the optical losses of the laser mode through plasmonic scattering and absorption, and this causes a rise in the threshold pump energy required for laser action that is proportional to the analyte concentration. By monitoring this threshold, detection of the complementary ODN target down to 11.5 pM is achieved. This complementary binding on the laser surface is independently confirmed through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported and funded by the Medical Devices CDT of Strathclyde University EPSRC grant number EP/ F50036X/1. A.L.K. thanks the EPSRC for funding (EP/ N009908/1). P.J.S. thanks the Royal Society for a Wolfson Research Merit Award.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Skabara, Professor Peter and Burley, Dr Glenn
• Authors: McConnell, G., Mabbott, S., Kanibolotsky, A. L., Skabara, P. J., Graham, D., Burley, G. A., and Laurand, N.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Langmuir
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 0743-7463
• ISSN (Online): 1520-5827
• Published Online: 18 September 2018
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 American Chemical Society
• First Published: First published in Langmuir 34(49): 14766-14773
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.15129/1316da75-360d-4cf7-b9e3-57d0b18d2190