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Using a silver-enhanced microarray sandwich structure to improve SERS sensitivity for protein detection

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Abstract

A simple and sensitive method, based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), for immunoassay and label-free protein detection is reported. A series of bowl-shaped silver cavity arrays were fabricated by electrodeposition using a self-assembled polystyrene spheres template. The reflection spectra of these cavity arrays were recorded as a function of film thickness, and then correlated with SERS enhancement using sodium thiophenolate as the probe molecule. The results reveal that SERS enhancement can be maximized when the frequency of both the incident laser and the Raman scattering approach the frequency of the localized surface plasmon resonance. The optimized array was then used as the bottom layer of a silver nanoparticle–protein–bowl-shaped silver cavity array sandwich. The second layer of silver was introduced by the interactions between the proteins in the middle layer of the sandwich architecture and silver nanoparticles. Human IgG bound to the surface of this microcavity array can retain its recognition function. With the Raman reporter molecules labeled on the antibody, a detection limit down to 0.1 ng mL−1 for human IgG is easily achieved. Furthermore, the SERS spectra of label-free proteins (catalase, cytochrome C, avidin and lysozyme) from the assembled sandwich have excellent reproducibility and high quality. The results reveal that the proposed approach has potential for use in qualitative and quantitative detection of biomolecules.

Schematic diagram of sandwich structure for labelled and label-free protein detection.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from the Nature Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21177067,21173122, 21201105), Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20131200), and Scientific and Technological Innovation Projects of Nantong City (HS2012006, BK2012012) are gratefully acknowledged. We would like to thank Dr Lei Chen for his assistance in this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China

    Xuefang Gu, Guoqing Jiang, Jian Shi, Guomin Jiang & Shu Tian

  2. Department of science and technology, Jiaozuo Teachers College, Jiaozuo, 454000, China

    Yuerong Yan

  3. Institute of Chemical Power Sources, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China

    Jason Adkins

Authors
  1. Xuefang Gu
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  2. Yuerong Yan
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  3. Guoqing Jiang
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  4. Jason Adkins
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  5. Jian Shi
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  6. Guomin Jiang
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  7. Shu Tian
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Correspondence to Jian Shi or Shu Tian.

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Gu, X., Yan, Y., Jiang, G. et al. Using a silver-enhanced microarray sandwich structure to improve SERS sensitivity for protein detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 406, 1885–1894 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7587-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7587-5

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