20 research outputs found
Plasmonic Optical Tweezers based on Nanostructures: fundamentals, advances and prospects
The ability of metallic nanostructures to confine light at the sub-wavelength
scale enables new perspectives and opportunities in the field of
nanotechnology. Making use of this unique advantage, nano-optical trapping
techniques have been developed to tackle new challenges in a wide range of
areas from biology to quantum optics. In this work, starting from basic
theories, we present a review of research progress in near-field optical
manipulation techniques based on metallic nanostructures, with an emphasis on
some of the most promising advances in molecular technology, such as the
precise control of single-biomolecules. We also provide an overview of possible
future research directions of nano-manipulation techniques.Comment: 19 page
Plasmonic and metamaterial biosensors: A game-changer for virus detection
One of the most important processes in the fight against current and future
pandemics is the rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment of viruses in
humans. In these times, the development of high-sensitivity tests and
diagnostic kits is an important research area. Plasmonic platforms, which
control light in subwavelength volumes, have opened up exciting prospects for
biosensing applications. Their significant sensitivity and selectivity allow
for the non-invasive and rapid detection of viruses. In particular,
plasmonic-assisted virus detection platforms can be achieved by various
approaches, including propagating surface and localized plasmon resonances, as
well as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In this review, we discuss both
the fundamental principles governing a plasmonic biosensor and prospects for
achieving improved sensor performance. We highlight several nanostructure
schemes to combat virus-related diseases. We also examine technological
limitations and challenges of plasmonic-based biosensing, such as reducing the
overall cost and handling of complex biological samples. Finally, we provide a
future prospective for opportunities to improve plasmonic-based approaches to
increase their impact on global health issues.Comment: 1
Enabling self-induced back-action trapping of gold nanoparticles in metamaterial plasmonic tweezers
The pursuit for efficient nanoparticle trapping with low powers has led to
optical tweezers technology moving from the conventional free-space
configuration to advanced plasmonic tweezers systems. However, trapping
nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm still remains a challenge even for plasmonic
tweezers. Proper nanocavity design and excitation has given rise to the
self-induced back-action (SIBA) effect offering enhanced trapping stiffness
with decreased laser power. In this work, we investigate the SIBA effect in
metamaterial tweezers and its synergy with the exhibited Fano resonance. We
demonstrate stable trapping of 20 nm gold particles for on-resonant and
off-resonant conditions with experimental trap stiffnesses as high as 4.18
fN/(nm*mW/m and very low excitation intensity of about 1
mW/m. Simulations reveal the existence of two different groups of
hotspots per unit cell of the metamaterial array. The two hotspots exhibit
tunable trap stiffnesses and this is a unique feature of these systems. It can
allow for sorting of particles and biological molecules based on their size,
shape, and refractive index.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure
In-situ analysis of small microplastics in coastal surface water samples of the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan
Marine plastic debris is widely recognized as a global environmental issue.
Sun-micron plastic particles, with an upper size limit of 20 um, have been
identified as having the highest potential for causing damage to marine
ecosystems. Having accurate methods for quantifying the abundance of such
particles in a natural environment is essential for defining the extent of the
problem they pose. Using an optical micro-Raman tweezers setup, we have
identified the composition of particles trapped in marine aggregates collected
from the coastal surface waters around the subtropical island of Okinawa.
Chemical composition analysis at the single-particle level indicates dominance
by low-density polyethylene, which accounted for 75% of the total sub-micron
plastics analyzed. Our results show the occurrence of plastics at all test
sites, with the highest concentration in areas with high human activities. The
average, smallest sub-micron plastics size is (2.53 +/- 0.85)um for
polystyrene. We also observed additional Raman peaks on the plastics spectrum
with decreasing debris size which could be related to structural modification
due to weathering or embedding in organic matter. By single-particle level
sub-micron plastics identification, we can begin to understand their dispersion
in the ocean and define their toxicity and impacts on marine biodiversity and
food chain.Comment: 9 page
Fano-Resonant, Asymmetric, Metamaterial-Assisted Tweezers for Single Nanoparticle Trapping
Plasmonic nanostructures can overcome Abbe's diffraction limit to generate
strong gradient fields, enabling efficient optical trapping of nano-sized
particles. However, it remains challenging to achieve stable trapping with low
incident laser intensity. Here, we demonstrate a Fano resonance-assisted
plasmonic optical tweezers (FAPOT), for single nanoparticle trapping in an
array of asymmetrical split nano-apertures, milled on a 50 nm gold thin film.
Stable trapping is achieved by tuning the trapping wavelength and varying the
incident trapping laser intensity. A very large normalized trap stiffness of
8.65 fN/nm/mW for 20 nm polystyrene particles at a near-resonance trapping
wavelength of 930 nm was achieved. We show that trap stiffness on resonance is
enhanced by a factor of 63 compared to off-resonance conditions. This can be
attributed to the ultra-small mode volume, which enables large near-field
strengths and a cavity Purcell effect contribution. These results should
facilitate strong trapping with low incident trapping laser intensity, thereby
providing new options for studying transition paths of single molecules, such
as proteins, DNA, or viruses.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure
Dynamic multiple nanoparticle trapping using metamaterial plasmonic tweezers
Optical manipulation has attracted remarkable interest owing to its versatile and noninvasive nature. However, conventional optical trapping remains inefficient in the nanoscopic world. The emergence of plasmonics in recent years has brought a revolutionary change in overcoming limitations due to diffraction and the requirements for high trapping laser powers. Among the near-field optical trapping cavity-based systems, Fano-resonant optical tweezers have a robust trapping capability. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate sequential trapping of 20nm particles through the use of metamaterial plasmonic optical tweezers. We investigate the multiple trapping via trap stiffness measurements for various trapping configurations at low and high incident laser intensities. Our plasmonic configuration could be used as a light-driven nanoscale sorting device under low laser excitation. Our results provide an alternative approach to trap multiple nanoparticles at distinct hotspots, enabling ways to control mass transport on the nanoscale
Analysis of small microplastics in coastal surface water samples of the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan
Marine plastic debris is widely recognized as a global environmental issue. Small microplastic particles, with an upper size limit of 20 mu m, have been identified as having the highest potential for causing damage to marine ecosystems. Having accurate methods for quantifying the abundance of such particles in a natural environment is essential for defining the extent of the problem they pose. Using an optical micro-Raman tweezers setup, we have identified the composition of particles trapped in marine aggregates collected from the coastal surface waters around the subtropical island of Okinawa. Chemical composition analysis at the single-particle level indicates dominance by low-density polyethylene, which accounted for 75% of the small microplastics analysed. The smallest microplastics identified were (2.53 ± 0.85) mu m polystyrene. Our results show the occurrence of plastics at all test sites, with the highest concentration in areas with high human activities. We also observed additional Raman peaks on the plastics spectrum with decreasing debris size which could be related to structural modification due to weathering or embedding in organic matter. By identifying small microplastics at the single-particle level, we obtain some indication on their dispersion in the ocean which could be useful for future studies on their potential impact on marine biodiversity
Asymmetric split-ring plasmonic nanostructures for optical sensing of Escherichia coli
Strategies for in-liquid micro-organism detection are crucial for the
clinical and pharmaceutical industries. While Raman spectroscopy is a promising
label-free technique for micro-organism detection, it remains challenging due
to the weak bacterial Raman signals. In this work, we exploit the unique
electromagnetic properties of metamaterials to identify bacterial components in
liquid using an array of Fano-resonant metamolecules. This Fano-enhanced Raman
scattering (FERS) platform is designed to exhibit a Fano resonance close to the
protein amide group fingerprint around 6030 nm. Raman signatures of Escherichia
coli were recorded at several locations on the metamaterial under off-resonance
laser excitation at 530 nm, where the photodamage effect is minimized. As the
sizes of the Escherichia coli are comparable to the micro-gaps, i.e 0.41
{\mu}m, of the metamaterials, its local immobilisation leads to an increase in
the Raman sensitivity. We also observed that the time-dependent FERS signal
related to bacterial amide peaks increased during the bacteria's
mid-exponential phase while it decreased during the stationary phase. This work
provides a new set of opportunities for developing ultrasensitive FERS
platforms suitable for large-scale applications and could be particularly
useful for diagnostics and environmental studies at off-resonance excitation.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure