DNA-tailored plasmonic nanoparticles for biosensing applications.

The plasmonic properties of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) such as Au and Ag NPs and the plasmonic coupling between them are of enormous interest for their strong and controllable optical signal enhancement and manipulation capabilities. The strong optical properties of these plasmonic structures are promising for various biosensing applications, but the widespread use of these structures is limited largely due to the absence of high-yield synthetic method for targeted nanoprobes with nanometer precision and the poor understanding of the plasmonics of these structures. DNA is a promising material that can be used as both specific biorecognition and versatile synthetic template in forming and controlling plasmonic nanostructures and their aggregations. In this article, we provide an overview and perspective of recent advances in the use of DNA-tailored plasmonic nanostructures in biosensing applications.