Maximizing the Accessibility in DNA Origami Nanoantenna Plasmonic Hotspots

Abstract

DNA nanotechnology has conquered the challenge of positioning quantum emitters in the hotspot of optical antenna structures for fluorescence enhancement. Therefore, DNA origami serves as the scaffold to arrange nanoparticles and emitters, such as fluorescent dyes. For the next challenge of optimizing the applicability of plasmonic hotspots for molecular assays, a Trident DNA origami structure that increases the accessibility of the hotspot is introduced, thereby improving the kinetics of target molecule binding. This Trident NanoAntenna with Cleared HOtSpot (NACHOS) is compared with previous DNA origami nanoantennas and improved hotspot accessibility is demonstrated without compromising fluorescence enhancement. The approach taps into the potential of Trident NACHOS for single-molecule-based plasmonic biosensing.