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Silica nanorods were synthesized through a simple one-pot emulsion-droplet-based growth method, in which tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the silica source, ammonia as the catalyst, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the structure-directing agent and stabilizer. By controlling hydrolysis and condensation in the reaction process, we regulated the aspect ratios and the infrared (IR) absorption fingerprint signals (the transverse optical and the longitudinal optical phonon modes) of the silica nanorods. Based on this, a dual-mode immunoassay was performed for detecting model target analyte, human IgG. The shape code of the silica nanorods was used for simple, rapid qualitative, and sensitive semi-quantitative immunoassay by using a conventional optical microscope. The characteristic IR absorption fingerprint signals of the silica nanorods allowed for reliable quantitative immunoassay with good selectivity and high specificity. The detection limit and the linear range were found out to be 0.5 pM and 1 pM-10 nM, respectively. We expect that such dual-mode immunoassay could be applied for the detection of other analytes, such as protein, nucleic acids, bacteria, viruses, explosives, toxins, and so on. Graphical abstract A simple dual-mode immunoassay was performed using the shape code and infrared absorption fingerprint signals of silica nanorods as detection signals.

Highly sensitive, specific, and selective immunoassays are of great significance for not only clinical diagnostics but also food safety, environmental monitoring, and so on. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and fluorescence-based and electrochemical immunoassays are important intensively investigated immunoassay techniques. However, they might suffer from low sensitivity or false-positive results. In this work, a simple, reliable, and ultrasensitive magnetic-bead-based immunoassay was performed using biofunctionalized ZnS semiconductor nanocrystals as resonant Raman probes. The resonant Raman scattering of ZnS nanocrystals displays evenly spaced multi-phonon resonant Raman lines with narrow bandwidths and has strong resistance to environmental variation due to the nature of the electron-phonon interaction, thus rendering reliable signal readout in the immunoassays. The superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles facilitated greatly the separation, purification, and concentration processes. It is beneficial for both reducing the labor intensity and amplifying the detection signals. The immobilization of antibodies on the surface of magnetic beads, the preparation of resonant Raman probes, and the immunological recognition between the antibody and analyte all occurred in the liquid phase, which minimized the diffusion barriers and boundary layer constraints. All these factors contributed to the ultralow detection limit of human IgG, which was determined to be about 0.5 fM (∼0.08 pg/ml). It is nearly the highest sensitivity obtained for IgG detection. This work shall facilitate the design of nanoplatforms for ultrasensitive detections of proteins, DNAs, bacteria, explosives, and so on. Graphical abstract An ultrasensitive magnetic-bead-based immunoassay was performed using multi-phonon resonant Raman lines of ZnS nanoparticles as detection signals.

• Fe 3 O 4 /ZnS nanocomposites were prepared with seed-mediated growth approach. • The nanocomposites exhibit superparamagnetism and resonant Raman fingerprint signal. • Ultrasensitive immunoassay was realized with the resonant Raman probes. Magnetic-optical nanocomposites, which consist of iron oxide nanoparticles and quantum dots, have aroused considerable research interest owing to their unique magnetic and luminescent properties. However, the luminescence of quantum dots tends to be quenched by the magnetic component. Resonant Raman scattering (RRS) of semiconductor nanocrystals, which originates from a strong electron-phonon interaction, provides a new candidate property to be exploited as an analytical tool. Herein, Fe 3 O 4 /ZnS nanocomposites were prepared with the seed-mediated growth approach. The nanocomposites exhibited superparamagnetism and characteristic multi-order phonon resonant Raman lines. By using biofunctionalized Fe 3 O 4 /ZnS nanocomposites as RRS probes, a femtomolar immunoassay of a model protein, human IgG, was realized with the assistance of an external magnetic field. The results provide guidance for the broad applications of magnetic-optical nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]