Parameter sensitivity analysis of surface plasmon resonance biosensor through numerical simulation

Surface based analytical tools have gained more importance for rapid, sensitive and label-free monitoring of molecular recognition events. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has played a prominent role in real time monitoring of surface binding events. SPR is increasing its significance especially for the study of ultrathin dielectric layer. This paper investigates the role of thin films of gold, silver and aluminium for protein detection in SPR biosensors. It is shown that the sensitivity, which is indicated by the shift of plasmon dip, is not linearly related to the thickness of protein but quadratic over a specific range. The approach involves a plot of a reflectivity curve as a function of the angle of incidence.

Comparison of performance parameters for conventional and localized surface plasmon resonance graphene biosensors

This paper investigates the enhancement of the sensitivity and adsorption efficiency of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensor that includes a layer of graphene sheet on top of the gold layer. For this purpose, biomolecular interactions of biotin-streptavidin with the graphene layer on the gold thin film are monitored. The performance of the LSPR graphene biosensor is theoretically and numerically assessed in terms of sensitivity and adsorption efficiency under varying conditions, including the thickness of biomolecule layer, number of graphene layers and operating wavelength. Enhanced sensitivity and improved adsorption efficiency are obtained for the LSPR graphene biosensor in comparison with its conventional counterpart. It is found that the LSPR graphene biosensor has better sensitivity with lower operating wavelength and larger number of graphene layers.

Variable incidence angle localized surface plasmon resonance graphene biosensor

This paper investigates the enhancement of sensitivity of variable incidence angle LSPR biosensor by monitoring biomolecular interactions of biotin-streptavidin with gold thin film. The investigation is carried out by means of introducing an additional layer of graphene sheet on top of gold layer (graphene biosensor) and using different coupling configuration of laser beam. The sensitivity, which is indicated by the shift of plasmon resonance angle, increases with graphene deposited onto the gold layers and is linearly related with the number of graphene layers. In addition, an investigation of the shift of plasmon dip is carried out for two different analyte interfaces: air and water. It is found that graphene biosensor has better sensitivity for triangular prism, higher prism angle, and water interface. The evaluation approach involves a plot of a reflectivity curve as a function of the angle of incidence while the operating wavelength is kept fixed.

Two-dimensional correlation localized surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy for analysis of the interaction between metal nanoparticles and bovine serum albumin

Time-resolved extinction spectra assisted with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to investigate the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and metal nanoparticles (NPs). A series of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of metal NPs were measured just after a small amount of BSA was added into metal colloids. Through 2DCOS analysis, remarkable changes in the intensities of the LSPR were observed. The interaction process was totally divided into three periods according to the PCA. Transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and ζ-potential measurements were also employed to characterize the interaction between BSA and metal NPs. The addition of BSA brings silver NPs to aggregate through the electrostatic interaction between them, but it has less effect on gold NPs. In a gold and silver mixed system, gold NPs can affect the interaction of silver NPs and BSA, leading it to weaken. The combination of 2DCOS analysis and LSPR spectroscopy is powerful for exploring the LSPR spectra of the metal NP involved systems. This combined technique holds great potential in LSPR sensing through analysis of slight, slim spectral changes of metal colloids

Design and analysis of a multilayer localized surface plasmon resonance graphene biosensor

This paper describes a multilayer localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) graphene biosensor that includes a layer of graphene sheet on top of the gold layer, and the use of different coupled configuration of a laser beam. The study also investigates the enhancement of the sensitivity and detection accuracy of the biosensor through monitoring biomolecular interactions of biotin-streptavidin with the graphene layer on the gold thin film. Additionally, the role of thin films of gold, silver, copper and aluminum in the performance of the biosensor is separately investigated for monitoring the binding of streptavidin to the biotin groups. The performance of the LSPR graphene biosensor is theoretically and numerically assessed in terms of sensitivity, adsorption efficiency, and detection accuracy under varying conditions, including the thickness of biomolecule layer, number of graphene layers and operating wavelength. Enhanced sensitivity and improved adsorption efficiency are obtained for the LSPR graphene biosensor in comparison with its conventional counterpart; however, detection accuracy under the same resonance condition is reduced by 5.2% with a single graphene sheet. This reduction in detection accuracy (signal to noise ratio) can be compensated for by introducing an additional layer of silica doped B2O3 (sdB2O3) placed under the graphene layer. The role of prism configuration, prism angle and the interface medium (air and water) is also analyzed and it is found that the LSPR graphene biosensor has better sensitivity with triangular prism, higher prism angle, lower operating wavelength and larger number of graphene layers. The approach involves a plot of a reflectivity curve as a function of the incidence angle. The outcomes of this investigation highlight the ideal functioning condition corresponding to the best design parameters.

Sensitivity analysis of a sub-wavelength localized surface plasmon resonance graphene biosensor

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is a promising detection method for label-free sensing of biomolecules. In this paper, a multilayer design for a LSPR biosensor is presented. In the proposed design, a periodic array of dielectric grating is incorporated on top of a graphene layer in the biosensor. The aim is to improve sensitivity of the LSPR biosensor through monitoring biomolecular interactions of biotin-streptavidin. Sensitivity improvement is obtained for the proposed LSPR biosensor compared with conventional SPR counterparts. In addition, to optimize the design, we have investigated grating geometry including volume factor and grating depth. The outcome of this investigation identifies ideal functioning conditions corresponding to the best design parameters.

Investigation on localized surface plasmon resonance of different nano-particles for bio-sensor applications

This paper proposes a novel sinusoidal shape nano-particle employed in localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) devices. Numerical modeling demonstrates advantages offered by the proposed nano-sinusoid on LSPR enhancement against other nano-particles including noble nano-triangles and nano-diamonds. Although nano-triangles exhibit high concentration of the electric field near their tips, when illuminated with a light polarized along the tip axis, they present only one hot spot at the vertex along the polarization direction. To create a structure with two hot spots, which is desired in bio-sensing applications, two nano-triangles can be put back-to-back. Therefore, a nano-diamond particle is obtained which exhibits two hot spots and presents higher enhancements than nano-triangles for the same resonant wavelength. The main drawback of the nano-diamonds is the fluctuation in their physical size-plasmon spectrum relationships, due to a high level of singularity as the result for their four sharp tip points. The proposed nano-sinusoid overcomes this disadvantage while maintaining the benefits of having two hot spots and high enhancements.

Localized surface plasmon resonance: nano-sinusoid arrays

A new nano-sinusoid shape has recently been proposed, which offers the advantage of more resonance wavelength tunability than that offered by other sharp-tip nano-particles. In this paper, a one-dimensional (1D) chain of the nano-sinusoids is modelled, and results are compared with those describing chains of nano-triangles and nano-diamonds. It is demonstrated that the chain of nano-sinusoids provides more enhancement at hot spots than other examined nano-particle shapes. This enhancement is analytically quantified using the coupling constant values used in the electrostatic eigenmode method for analytically solving Maxwell's equations for the nano-plasmonic devices. In addition, investigating LSPR spectrum of two-dimensional (2D) arrays of NPs demonstrates existence of enhanced surface electric fields on hot spots of the outer rows of the array.

Design and analysis of a multilayer surface plasmon resonance biosensor

Designed a multilayer SPR biosensor to improve the detection sensitivity and accuracy simultaneously. Developed a design procedure to identify optimum design parameters for SPR biosensing. Devised a new detection measurement technique based on S-parameters for SPR biosensing.

Simulation and analysis of a sub-wavelength grating based multilayer surface plasmon resonance biosensor

This paper presents a subwavelength grating based multilayer surface plasmon resonance biosensor (SPRB) which includes a periodic array of subwavelength grating on top of a layer of graphene sheet in the biosensor. The proposed biosensor is named grating-graphene SPRB (GG-SPRB). The aim of the proposed multilayer structure is to improve the sensitivity of the SPRB through monitoring of the biomolecular interactions of DNA hybridization. Significant sensitivity improvement is obtained for the GG-SPRB compared with the conventional SPRB. The result of the numerical investigation of the GG-SPRB is presented and compared with a theoretically developed multilayer matrix formalism, and a good agreement has been observed. In addition, an optimization of the grating dimensions including volume factor, grating depth, grating angle, grating period, and grating geometry (e.g., rectangular, sinusoidal and triangular) is presented. The outcome of the investigation presented in this paper identifies desired functioning conditions corresponding to the best design parameters for the GG-SPRB.

Numerical investigation of a grating and graphene-based multilayer surface plasmon resonance biosensor

A multilayer surface plasmon resonance biosensor (SPRB) incorporating a grating-graphene configuration is investigated for enhanced sensitivity. The numerical analysis of the impact of integrating a periodic array of subwavelength grating on top of a layer of graphene sheet for improving sensitivity is presented. The result of monitoring the biomolecular interactions of DNA hybridization is compared against the outcome of the conventional SPRB, a graphene-based multilayer SPRB, and a multilayer layer grating SPRB, and is mathematically validated. It is demonstrated that the inclusion of a grating and graphene layer on top of the gold thin film is an excellent candidate for a highly sensitive SPRB. To achieve further enhancement of sensitivity, the subwavelength grating is numerically optimized against its geometry including grating configurations (rectangular, sinusoidal, and triangular), grating depth, volume factor, and grating period. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Modeling and simulation of a periodic grating coupled configuration for surface plasmon excitation

The deficiencies in the design of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) systems that are reported in numerous published works consistently identify the optics assembly as the main problem in the miniaturization of SPR sensors for integration into biosensor systems. This paper presents a novel design of a grating coupled optical waveguide surface plasmon (SP) excitation mechanism, investigated with the intention of addressing the problems associated with using the traditional prism input-output light coupling approach. Computational multiphysics modeling and simulation of the design is carried out. The results are presented and discussed.