title: Reversible Aptamer-Au Plasmon Rulers for Secreted Single Molecules.
abstract: Plasmon rulers, consisting of pairs of gold nanoparticles, allow single-molecule analysis without photobleaching or blinking; however, current plasmon rulers are irreversible, restricting detection to only single events. Here, we present a reversible plasmon ruler, comprised of coupled gold nanoparticles linked by a single aptamer, capable of binding individual secreted molecules with high specificity. We show that the binding of target secreted molecules to the reversible plasmon ruler is characterized by single-molecule sensitivity, high specificity, and reversibility. Such reversible plasmon rulers should enable dynamic and adaptive live-cell measurement of secreted single molecules in their local microenvironment.
authors.forename: Somin Eunice
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: ∇Department of Molecular Reproduction Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
authors.forename: Ramray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Shayne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petkiewicz
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Vivian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: A Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alivisatos
authors.forename: Mina J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bissell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D036103:Nanotechnology; D061848:Optical Imaging; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D006046:Gold; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3
keywords: gold nanoparticle; imaging; plasmon; secreted molecule; single-molecule