Biomimetic SERS substrate: peptide recognition elements for highly selective chemical detection in chemically complex media

摘要: Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is rapidly emerging as a sensitive transduction platform for the trace detection of chemical and biological analytes. A critical challenge that needs to be addressed propel this technique into real world applications poor selectivity existing SERS substrates. In communication, we demonstrate novel biomimetic approach enhance plasmonic nanostructures target particular, material-binding peptides, identified through phage-display, serve recognition elements selective capture species from complex mixture. As proof concept, show nitroaromatic explosive molecule, trinitrotoluene (TNT), can detected down 100 pM concentration even in organic This ultrasensitive enabled by TNT-binding peptides appended gold nanorods, which media. To best our knowledge, first demonstration substrate facilitating analyte presence numerous unknown interfering species.