Plasmonic colorimetric sensors based on etching and growth of noble metal nanoparticles: Strategies and applications

Abstract

Plasmonic colorimetric sensors have emerged as a powerful tool in chemical and biological sensing applications due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) extinction in the visible range. Among the plasmonic sensors, the most famous sensing mode is the "aggregation" plasmonic colorimetric sensor which is based on plasmon coupling due to nanoparticle aggregation. Herein, this review focuses on the newly-developing plasmonic colorimetric sensing mode - the etching or the growth of metal nanoparticles induces plasmon changes, namely, "non-aggregation" plasmonic colorimetric sensor. This type of sensors has attracted increasing interest because of their exciting properties of high sensitivity, multi-color changes, and applicability to make a test strip. Of particular interest, the test strip by immobilization of nanoparticles on the substrate can avoid the influence of nanoparticle auto-aggregation and increase the simplicity in storage and use. Although there are many excellent reviews available that describe the advance of plasmonic sensors, limited attention has been paid to the plasmonic colorimetric sensors based on etching or growth of metal nanoparticles. This review highlights recent progress on strategies and application of "non-aggregation" plasmonic colorimetric sensors. We also provide some personal insights into current challenges associated with "non-aggregation" plasmonic colorimetric sensors and propose future research directions.

Noble Metal-Assisted Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunosensors

“…As proof of concept, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was applied as a model protein marker and a LOD of 0.01 ng/mL was observed under the optimized conditions. Conversely, Ma et al demonstrated that the LSPR peak shift could also occur through structural changes of noble-metal nanostructures [40]. Authors have described that the product (TMB2+) of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed oxidation of 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) can etch out the gold nanorods (GNRs), which generates vivid color responses based on the LSPR peak shift through structural changes [40] (Figure 2c).…”

“…Conversely, Ma et al demonstrated that the LSPR peak shift could also occur through structural changes of noble-metal nanostructures [40]. Authors have described that the product (TMB2+) of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-catalyzed oxidation of 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) can etch out the gold nanorods (GNRs), which generates vivid color responses based on the LSPR peak shift through structural changes [40] (Figure 2c). Based on this finding, researchers have utilized GNRs in a commercially available HRP-TMB immunoassay system for visual quantification of CEA and PSA with the naked eye.…”

“…Based on this finding, researchers have utilized GNRs in a commercially available HRP-TMB immunoassay system for visual quantification of CEA and PSA with the naked eye. Similarly, the SPR and LSPR phenomena have been widely utilized in the development of different types of analytical methods for the determination of protein biomarkers [40]. Recent research on SPR-and LSPR-based analytical methods for protein marker detection are compared in Table 1.…”

Progress on Structured Biosensors for Monitoring Aflatoxin B1 From Biofilms: A Review

“…To improve the sensitivity, the signal amplification strategy has been employed in increasingly more widespread applications in colorimetric biosensors for detecting low analyte concentrations (Taghdisi et al, 2018;Li C. et al, 2019). In the colorimetric aptasensor system, noble metal nanoparticles are usually applied as signal indicators due to their ability to change color when changing from a dispersion state to an aggregation state (Danesh et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2018). Enzyme catalysis is another common method used to change the color.…”

Designing an Optimal Ion Adsorber at the Nanoscale: The Unusual Nucleation of AgNP/Co2+–Ni2+ Binary Mixtures

“…The ability to isolate and recognise heavy metal ions in water is becoming a very active field of study and research due to the impact the heavy metals have on the environment and health. [1][2][3][4] To tackle this issue nanotechnologies are starting to play a key role in designing and developing tunable systems able to selectively sense the presence of such pollutants. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coated with thiols have been proven to be a very effective tool for detection and removal of heavy metals in aqueous solutions.…”