Resonance wavelength-dependent signal of absorptive particles in surface plasmon resonance-based detection

We describe the resonance wavelength-dependent signal of absorptive particles in surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based detection using both modeling and experimental results. The particles, gold nanocages, have a significant absorption cross-section in the near-infrared (NIR), resulting in a wavelength-dependent refractive index as measured by SPR. The SPR signal due to the nanocages varies by four-fold over resonance wavelengths from 650 nm to 950 nm. The greatest SPR signal occurs at the longest resonance wavelengths; its magnitude is due to the inherent increase in sensitivity of SPR on gold with increasing wavelength and the optical absorption properties of the nanocages.