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  • Review Article
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Nanoplasmonic optical antennas for life sciences and medicine

Nature Reviews Materials volume 3, pages 228–243 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Surface plasmons — light-induced oscillations of electrons at the surface of nanoplasmonic metallic nanoparticles or nanostructures — can be used in a wide range of applications. Such nanoplasmonic optical antennas can be interfaced with biological systems to answer diverse questions in life sciences and to solve problems in translational medicine. In particular, nanoplasmonics provide insight and solutions for intracellular exploration, gene delivery and regulation, and rapid precision molecular diagnostics. In this Review, we examine the development of nanoplasmonic optical antennas for in vitro and in vivo applications. We evaluate the use of optical nanoplasmonic antennas for the optical detection of mRNA in living cells and for in vivo molecular imaging. We also discuss nanoplasmonic optical antennas for in vivo gene delivery and the optical control of gene circuits. Finally, we highlight the use of nanoplasmonic-based molecular diagnostic systems for ultrafast precision medicine.

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Fig. 1: Cellular exploration.
Fig. 2: mRNA detection methods in living cells.
Fig. 3: In vivo molecular imaging.
Fig. 4: In vivo gene delivery and optical control of gene circuits.
Fig. 5: In vitro integrated molecular diagnostics.
Fig. 6: Plasmonic-based label-free molecular diagnostics.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S.J. Taylor for help with revising the manuscript before submission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedical Institute for Global Health Research and Technology (BIGHEART), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Hongbao Xin, Bumseok Namgung & Luke P. Lee

  2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber Sensing and Communications, Institute of Nanophotonics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

    Hongbao Xin

  3. Berkeley Sensor and Actuator Center, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Luke P. Lee

  4. Department of Bioengineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Luke P. Lee

  5. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Luke P. Lee

  6. Biophysics Graduate Program, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    Luke P. Lee

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H.X. researched data for the article. H.X. and L.P.L. contributed to the discussion of content and wrote the article. All authors edited the manuscript before submission.

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Xin, H., Namgung, B. & Lee, L.P. Nanoplasmonic optical antennas for life sciences and medicine. Nat Rev Mater 3, 228–243 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-018-0033-8

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