Optical detection of antibody using silica-silver core-shell particles

Nearly monodispersed spherical particles of silica were synthesized and coated with thin layer of silver nanoparticles. Silver coated silica particles, forming core-shell particles exhibited a strong surface plasmon resonance peak at 453 nm. A very small amount (20 μg) of rabbit immunoglobulin in core-shell particle solution results in to a marked shift in surface plasmon resonance. Addition of 20 μg quantity of goat anti rabbit antibodies results in to a red shift of surface plasmon resonance to 494 nm. This demonstrates that silver coated silica particles are sensitive probes for rapid antibody-anti antibody kind of interaction investigations. Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy have been used to interpret the optical extinction spectroscopy results.