Nanoplasmonic-Particle-Enhanced Optical Molecular Sensing

Metallic nanoparticles have a strong localized plasmon resonance that is influenced by the physical properties of the nanoparticles and their immediate ambient environment. Electromagnetic field and plasmon energy can also be manipulated by engineering nanoparticle plasmonic structures to concentrate and transport the electromagnetic energy, as well as by transferring the plasmon energy. If coupled with chemical and biological molecules on the surfaces, nanoplasmonic particles and related structures can be used to detect and measure static and dynamic molecular interactions in intro and in vivo. The nanoplasmonic particle molecular sensor is an emerging research tool to help in answering questions of sophisticated genetic processing and cellular signaling mechanisms, as well as early diagnostic imaging of human diseases. The optical molecular sensing enhanced by plasmonic nanoparticles is discussed in the aspects of fundamental theories, nanofabrication, optical spectroscopy, and imaging. Many biomedical applications are also reviewed.