Nanoplasmonics biosensors: At the frontiers of biomedical diagnostics

This article presents an overview of various nanoplasmonics biosensors and their diverse applications, focusing on recent developments in our laboratory. We describe the versatility and effectiveness of different plasmonics-active platforms, ranging from solid substrates to adaptable nanoparticles like gold nanostars and nanorattles. The “Inverse Molecular Sentinel” (iMS) biosensing technology uses surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to detect nucleotide biomarkers associated with diseases ranging from acute infections to several types of cancer. We have also developed SERS-based nanochip systems capable of detecting DNA targets related to infectious disease biomarkers such as HIV, malaria, and dengue, promising advancements in global health diagnostics. Further, nanorattle-based biosensors are designed as "lab-in-a-stick" devices for rapid head and neck cancer diagnosis. Other technologies include plasmonics-enhanced lateral flow immunoassay systems, smartphone-based biosensing, and implantable biosensors or "smart tattoo" systems. These nanoplasmonics biosensors open new frontiers to rapid, simple, and effective detection systems for biomedical diagnostics.