Abstract
Proteins are one of the most versatile groups of molecules with vital functional roles in living systems. Their enormous diversity and structural flexibility make the detection of these molecules a challenging task. A simple and sensitive label-free protein detection method based on assembly of proteins and colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on surfaces and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is reported. The SERS spectra from the assembled AgNP/protein films show excellent reproducibility and high quality regardless of the proteins' charge status and size. A detection limit down to 0.5 μg/mL for three acidic proteins; BSA, catalase and pepsin, and three basic proteins; cytochrome c, avidin and lysozyme, is easily achieved. The minimum improvement in detection limit is more than 1 order of magnitude compared to the previously reported detection limits using the technique and the approach has the potential for label-free protein detection and identification.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 7596-7602 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Analytical Chemistry |
Volume | 82 |
Issue number | 18 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 15 2010 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analytical Chemistry