Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 4 , Pages 306-310, December 2007

SERS detection of thrombin by protein recognition using functionalized gold nanoparticles

Biophysics and Nanoscience Centre, CNISM, Facolta’ di Scienze, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

Received 8 June 2007; accepted 24 September 2007.

Abstract 

We present a method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and exploiting a protein-protein recognition process able to detect thrombin at subpicomolar concentrations. Gold nanoparticles (NPs) were capped with a bifunctional molecule capable of forming a covalent link with the aromatic residues of the protein moiety. The typical vibrations of the diazo bond established between the bifunctional molecule and the target protein are found to be selectively enhanced by the conjugated gold NPs, and therefore constitutes the Raman marker. After the interaction of functionalized NPs with antithrombin as a sensitive recognition element, immobilized on a capture substrate, we have detected thrombin at a concentration of about 10-13 M.

Key words: Nanobiosensors, Thrombin, Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

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 No conflict of interest was reported by the authors of this article.

PII: S1549-9634(07)00125-6

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2007.09.005

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 4 , Pages 306-310, December 2007