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High Sensitivity Biosensors based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance

Members: Prof. Stella W. Pang (EE) - Project Leader
Dr. David S. K. Chiu (BMS)
Dr. Johnny Ho (AP)
Prof. Edwin Y.B. Pun (EE)
Dr. Patrick Lee (SEE)

The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect was used to distinguish cell concentration on ordered arrays of Au nanoparticles (NPs) on glass substrates. Human-derived retinal pigment epithelial RPE-1 cells with flatter bodies and higher confluency were compared with breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Nanosphere lithography was used to form Au NPs with average diameters of 500 and 60 nm in order to compare cell detection range, resonance peak shift, and cell concentration sensitivity. A larger cell concentration range was detected on the larger 500 nm Au NPs compared to 60 nm Au NPs (8.56×103 – 1.09×106 vs. 3.43×104 – 2.73×105 cells/ml). Resonance peak shift could distinguish RPE-1 from MCF-7 cells on both Au NPs. RPE-1 cells consistently displayed larger resonance peak shifts compared to MCF-7 cells until the detection became saturated at higher concentration. For both types of cells, higher concentration sensitivity in the range of ~104 – 106 cells/ml was observed on 500 nm compared to 60 nm Au NPs. Our results show that cells on Au NPs can be detected at a large range and low concentration. Optimal cell sensing can be achieved by altering the dimensions of Au NPs according to different cell characteristics and concentrations.

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LSPR peak shift as a function of RPE-1 and MCF-7 cell concentration in the range 8.56×103 to 1.09×106 cells/ml for 60 nm (left) and 500 nm (right) Au NPs.


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Maximum projections of 30 fluorescent confocal micrographs of the X-Y plane of RPE-1 and MCF-7 cells at different confluency seeded on 60 nm Au NP coated glass substrates with cell concentration varying from 8.56×103 to 1.09×106 cells/ml.


Publication and Conference Presentation

  1. X. Zhao, M. K. Wong, S. K. Chiu, and S. W. Pang, “Effects of three-layered nanodisk size on cell detection sensitivity of plasmon resonance biosensors”, Biosens. Bioelectron. 74:799-807 (2015).
  2. F. Liu, M. K. Wong, S. K. Chiu, H. Lin, J. C. Ho, and S. W. Pang, “Localized surface plasmon resonance biosensor for high sensitivity cell detection”, Biosens. Bioelectron. 55, 141-148 (2014).
  3. S. W. Pang, “Platforms with Micro- and Nano-Structures to Control Cell Migration and Cell Detection”, IEEE 14th International Conference on Nanotechnology, Toronto, ON, Canada, August 18-21, 2014.