Approximately 88% of the world population
lives in regions with intermediate to high incidence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), yet current serological and DNA-based detection methods have
limited sensitivity and convenience. Here, we describe a preassembled plasmonic resonance nanocluster for HBV detection. The gold nanoparticle acceptors (AuNPs), with HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) epitope, and quantum dot (QD) donors with Fab antibody, are assembled into an immuno-mediated 3D-oriented complex with enhanced energy transfer and fluorescence quenching. The coherent plasmonic resonance between Au and QD nanoparticles is exploited to achieve improved donor鈥揳cceptor resonance within the nanocluster, which in the presence of HBV viral particles is disassembled in a highly specific manner. The nanocluster provides high detection specificity and sensitivity of HBV, with a sensitivity
limit down to 1鈥?00 viral particles per micro
liter and to attomolar levels of HBsAg. This general platform could be used to estab
lish multiplex diagnostic assays for a variety of other microbial pathogens.
Keywords:
nanocluster; plasmonic; gold nanoparticle; quantum dots; Hepatitis B virus; biosensing