Plasmonic nano-assemblies with fluorescent nanodiamonds and photonic metamaterial enhancement for spectroscopic digital-resolution detection of biomolecules

Detecting biological molecules is important for monitoring health, food, and water. Traditional detection methods are very sensitive but are also complex. These methods rely on expensive instruments and highly trained personnel. This project will construct compact and low-cost point-of-use sensors that can measure single molecules. The project will develop new materials that concentrate light and amplify bright signals to count individual molecules. These materials will be tuned to emit different colors of light. The sensors will enable highly sensitive detection of different molecules by an inexpensive light microscope. In addition, the project will include educational events at the University of Illinois Institute for Genomic Biology. A new course titled “The Science of Seeing the Invisible: Photonics in Health and Environment” will be developed at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Many current materials used for sensing, such as quantum dots, suffer from blinking, cytotoxicity, and inability to detect multiple analytes. This research will develop hybrid materials that leverage the unique properties of nanodiamonds. The work will be structured around three goals that span material synthesis, computational design, and device integration. First, the team will fabricate nanoassemblies composed of metal nanoparticles and nanodiamonds. These nanoassemblies will be coupled with photonic crystals to amplify excitation and emission. Second, the team will explore doping strategies leveraging quantum defects to tune the fluorescence emission of the nanodiamonds. Third, the team will develop imaging devices for digital counting and spectroscopic modes. The project will yield new photonic technology that will lead to future field-deployable sensors for healthcare. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.