High-resolution biosensor based on localized surface plasmons

We report on a new biosensor with localized surface plasmons (LSP) based on an array of gold nanorods and the total internal reflection imaging in polarization contrast. The sensitivity of the new biosensor is characterized and a model detection of DNA hybridization is carried out. The results are compared with a reference experiment using a conventional high-resolution surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor. We show that the LSP-based biosensor delivers the same performance as the SPR system while involving significantly lower surface densities of interacting molecules. We demonstrate a limit of detection of 100 pM and a surface density resolution of only 35 fgxmm(-2) that corresponds to less than one DNA molecule per nanoparticle on average. (C)2011 Optical Society of America