Plasmonic Paper

Newswise — WASHINGTON, D.C., October 9, 2014 -- Using a common laboratory filter paper decorated with gold nanoparticles, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a unique platform, known as “plasmonic paper,” for detecting and characterizing even trace amounts of chemicals and biologically important molecules—from explosives, chemical warfare agents and environmental pollutants to disease markers. The work will be described by Srikanth Singamaneni, assistant professor in the department of mechanical engineering and materials science at Washington University in St. Louis, and postdoc Limei Tian at the AVS 61th International Symposium and Exhibition, held Nov. 9-14, at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Md.

Plasmonics involves the control of light at the nanoscale using surface plasmons, which are coordinated waves, or ripples, of electrons that exist on the surfaces of materials, and in particular metals such as gold. Localized surface plasmons of metal nanostructures result in unique optical properties with characteristics that depend upon the metal composition, size and shape of structures, the surrounding medium, and so on.

Tian and Singamaneni created their plasmonic paper by immersing common cellulosic filter paper into a solution of gold nanoparticles. Such a simple optically active platform can be employed to enhance the fingerprint signal of chemicals, revealing the identity of a trace amount of a compound such as a chemical warfare agent. In addition clinically important proteins can be captured by modified plasmonic paper and detected based on changes in the optical spectra that result when the proteins bind to the paper. “In-field detection of chemical and biological threats is the challenge that we are trying to address,” Tian said. “This technology can be broadly used for chemical and biological sensing, including homeland security, forensics and environmental monitoring, and medical diagnostic applications.”

For example, Tian noted, the plasmonic paper can be used to detect target molecules that serve as indicators for diseases such as kidney cancer.

“We believe that we have a platform technology that nicely lends itself for such applications,” Tian said.

At the same time, Tian and Singamaneni stressed that a number of obstacles remain to be overcome before the technology can be used for chemical detection applications, not the least of which is the complexity of the “chemical space” in the real world. Because vast numbers of chemicals exist that would interfere with accurate measurements, these tests require very high selectivity—at a level that the current incarnation of plasmonic paper can’t yet achieve.

“We expect this can be overcome by integrating biomimetic target recognition elements with plasmonic paper in the near future,” Tian said.

Presentation MS+PS+TF-ThA8, “Plasmonic Paper: An Emerging AnalyticalPlatform for Trace Chemical and Biological Detection,” is at 4:40 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014.

###

MORE ABOUT THE AVS 61st INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM & EXHIBITION

The symposium takes place from November 9-14 at the Baltimore Convention Center, which is located at One West Pratt Street in Baltimore, Maryland, 21201. The headquarters hotel is the Sheraton Inner Harbor at 300 South Charles Street in Baltimore, Maryland, 21201.

USEFUL LINKS

Main symposium website: http://www.avs.org/Meetings-Exhibits/Information Technical Program: http://www.avssymposium.orgMedia Center: https://www.avs.org/About/Press-Media-Center Baltimore Convention Center: http://www.bccenter.orgSheraton Inner Harbor: http://www.sheratoninnerharbor.com

PRESSROOM

The AVS Pressroom will be located in the Charles Street Lobby Staff Office of the Baltimore Convention Center. Pressroom hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Your press badge will allow you to utilize the pressroom to write, interview, collect new product releases, review material, or just relax. The press badge will also admit you, free of charge, into the exhibit area, lectures, and technical sessions, as well as the Welcome Mixer at 5:30 p.m. ET on Monday in Ballroom III of the Baltimore Convention Center and the Awards Ceremony and Reception at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday night in Ballroom I-II of the Baltimore Convention Center.

To request free press registration, please contact Jason Socrates Bardi: [email protected] and Della Miller [email protected]

ABOUT AVS

Founded in 1953, AVS is a not-for-profit professional society that promotes communication between academia, government laboratories, and industry for the purpose of sharing research and development findings over a broad range of technologically relevant topics. Its symposia and journals provide an important forum for the dissemination of information in many areas of science and technology, enabling a critical gateway for the rapid insertion of scientific breakthroughs into manufacturing realities. See: http://www.avs.org/About

###