Optical express monitoring of Internalin B, a protein of the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, using SERS-active silver-decorated silicon nanowires

Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) is a powerful vibrational optical spectroscopy method that allows highly sensitive detection of molecules at very low concentrations matter by amplifying the electromagnetic fields created excitation localized surface plasmons on noble metal nanostructures. In presented work manufacturing composite nanostructures silicon nanowires decorated with silver (AgSiNWs) has been developed. The SERS activity AgSiNWs for protein was investigated using human serum albumin as an example. For first time, possibility rapid diagnosis internalin B (InlB) pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes obtained shown. spectra InlB adsorbed different concentrations, distinct peaks corresponding to scattering are observed. Based experimental data obtained, limit calculated be 4.8· 10 -9 M. results in this demonstrate high potential various proteins SERS. Keywords: scattering, nanowires, nanostructures, albumin, listeria, B.