Label-free single cancer marker protein detection using a nanoplasmonic-photonic hybrid whispering gallery mode biosensor

The reactive sensing principle applied to hybrid plasmonic whispering gallery mode biosensor has recently demonstrated detection of individual protein cancer markers. The rough surface of a gold nanoparticle affixed to the resonator surface acts like a nanoscopic antenna, significantly boosts the local electric field within the cavity mode. Adsorption of a target protein onto this nanoscopic antenna results in an enhanced response of the resonator system to the binding event. We have demonstrated detection of individual protein molecules (66 kDa) with good signal-to-noise (S/N > 10), and project that detection of proteins as small as 5 kDa are possible.