Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based ultrafast DNA assays using photothermal PCR chip with plasmonic nanopillar arrays

Abstract

An amplification and SERS-based quantification of genetic molecules have been demonstrated for ultrafast DNA assays using photothermal PCR chip with plasmonic nanopillar arrays. Glass nanopillar arrays with gold nanoislands have multiple roles of plasmonic heat generator using photothermal effect as well as SERS substrate using local field enhancement. The photothermal heating by plasmonic nanopillar arrays on LED enables a ultrafast rate of thermal change with highly efficient amplification and the nanogap-rich structure supports a significant increase of SERS peak for conjugation between SYBR green and amplicon with low cycle threshold. This novel method can open up for improved point-of-care molecular diagnosis.