Molecular Plasmonics for Biology and Nanomedicine

Abstract

The optical excitation of surface plasmons in metal nanoparticles leads to nanoscale spatial confinement of electromagnetic fields. The confined electromagnetic fields can generate intense, localized thermal energy and large near-field optical forces. The interaction between these effects and nearby molecules has led to the emerging field known as molecular plasmonics. Recent advances in molecular plasmonics have enabled novel optical materials and devices with applications in biology and nanomedicine. In this article, we categorize three main types of interactions between molecules and surface plasmons: optical, thermal and mechanical. Within the scope of each type of interaction, we will review applications of molecular plasmonics in biology and nanomedicine. We include a wide range of applications that involve sensing, spectral analysis, imaging, delivery, manipulation and heating of molecules, biomolecules or cells using plasmonic effects. We also briefly describe the physical principles of molecular plasmonics and progress in the nanofabrication, surface functionalization and bioconjugation of metal nanoparticles.

Keywords::

• drug delivery
• gene switches
• localized surface plasmon resonance
• molecular plasmonics
• nanocarrier
• nanosensor
• photothermal therapeutics
• plasmonic nanoscopy
• plasmonic tweezers
• surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors thank the Penn State Center for Nanoscale Science (MRSEC), NIH Director‘s New Innovator Award (1DP2OD007209-01), the Department of Energy (Grant Nos. DE-SC00-05161 and DE-FG02-07ER15877), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-08-1-0349), the National Science Foundation (ECCS-0801922, ECCS-0609128 and ECCS-0609128), and the Kavli Foundation for support of the work described herein. This material is also based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-0750756. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Penn State Center for Nanoscale Science (MRSEC), NIH Director‘s New Innovator Award (1DP2OD007209-01), the Department of Energy (Grant Nos. DE-SC00-05161 and DE-FG02-07ER15877), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-08-1-0349), the National Science Foundation (ECCS-0801922, ECCS-0609128 and ECCS-0609128), and the Kavli Foundation for support of the work described herein. This material is also based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. DGE-0750756. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.