"Plasmonic analytical tools for sensing and targeting biomolecules"

Puebla

Congreso; 6th Mexican Workshop on Nanostructure Materials; 2016

Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP)

The combination of the extraordinary optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) (specially Ag and Au) with the capabilities of target recognition given by biomolecules has given rise in recent years to the interdisciplinary field called Bionanoplasmonics In this presentation I will give our recent research performed in our group concerning this issue. In particular I will discuss the design of plasmonic probes for localizing and quantifying receptors in neural cells, using a convenient functionalization of Au NPs and the development of a novel analytical tool for antigen quantification in real samples using conventional UV-Vis spectroscopy based on the change of the optical properties of biofunctionalized colloidal Au NPs in the presence of specific antigens. This last technique for antigen quantification will be demonstrated to be over 100 times more sensitive and 5 times less expensive than the conventional ELISA (Enzime Linked Immunosorbent Assay) methodology used for this purpose in clinical biochemical laboratories, without the need of any additional expensive equipment.