Development of a Long-Range Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Ruler

作者：Singh Anant Kumar; Khan Sadia Afrin; Fan Zhen; Demeritte Teresa; Senapati Dulal; Kanchanapally Rajashekhar; Ray Paresh Chandra^*

来源：Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2012, 134(20): 8662-8669.

DOI：10.1021/ja301921k

Optical-ruler-based distance measurements are essential for tracking biomolecular processes in a wide range of analytical biochemical applications. The normally used Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) ruler is not useful for investigating distance-dependent properties when distances are more than 10 nm. Driven by this limitation, we have developed a long-range surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) optical ruler using oval-shaped gold nanoparticles and Rh6G dye-modified rigid, variable-length double-strand DNAs. The bifunctional rigid dsDNA molecule serves as the SERS-active ruler. Our experimental results show that one can tune the length of the SERS ruler between 8 and similar to 18 nm by choosing the size of the oval-shaped gold nanoparticles. A possible mechanism for our observed distance-dependent SEAS phenomenon is discussed using the Gersten and Nitzan model. Ultimately, our long-range SEAS molecular rulers can be an important step toward understanding distance-dependent biological processes.

• 出版日期2012-5-23