Abstract: Disclosed is a localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanopillar assembly. The LSPR assembly is for use in sensing the presence of a biomarker when attached to a quantum dot. The LSPR assembly comprises a substrate and an array. The array comprises a LSPR nanopillar and a polymer spacer attached to the nanopillar. The LSPR assembly further comprises an antibody attached to the at least one polymer spacer. In the LSPR assembly, a combined height of the polymer spacer and antibody is selected by varying the number of monomer units of the polymer spacer, so that, when in use with the biomarker and the quantum dot, the quantum dot is at a predetermined distance from the nanopillar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) nanopillar assembly. The LSPR assembly is for use in sensing the presence of a biomarker when attached to a quantum dot. The LSPR assembly comprises a substrate and an array. The array comprises a LSPR nanopillar and a polymer spacer attached to the nanopillar. The LSPR assembly further comprises an antibody attached to the at least one polymer spacer. In the LSPR assembly, a combined height of the polymer spacer and antibody is selected by varying the number of monomer units of the polymer spacer, so that, when in use with the biomarker and the quantum dot, the quantum dot is at a predetermined distance from the nanopillar.

Abstract: There is method for detecting the presence or absence of a target analyte in a sample comprising the steps of: allowing an inorganic fluorescent particle to conjugate with a detection biomolecule that is bound to said target analyte, if present in said sample, said target analyte additionally being bound by a capture biomolecule immobilized on or within a nanostructure; and detecting the fluorescence emitted by said inorganic fluorescent particle, said nanostructure being capable of generating a surface plasmon resonance effect when excited by a light source to substantially increase the fluorescence emitted by said inorganic fluorescent particle, wherein the detected fluorescence indicates the presence of said target analyte in said sample.

Abstract: There is method for detecting the presence or absence of a target analyte in a sample comprising the steps of: allowing an inorganic fluorescent particle to conjugate with a detection biomolecule that is bound to said target analyte, if present in said sample, said target analyte additionally being bound by a capture biomolecule immobilized on or within a nanostructure; and detecting the fluorescence emitted by said inorganic fluorescent particle, said nanostructure being capable of generating a surface plasmon resonance effect when excited by a light source to substantially increase the fluorescence emitted by said inorganic fluorescent particle, wherein the detected fluorescence indicates the presence of said target analyte in said sample.