Abstract: Methods for forming samples of noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals having very low size and shape polydispersities from samples of mixed noble metal nanocrystals are provided. The samples include those comprising high purity, substantially monodisperse, plasmonic gold bipyramid nanocrystals. Also provided are methods of growing secondary twinned metal nanocrystals using the noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as seed particles. Like the seed bipyramid nanocrystals from which they are grown, the secondary nanocrystals are twinned nanocrystals and may also be characterized by very low size and shape polydispersities. Secondary twinned nanocrystals grown by these methods include enlarged metal bipyramid nanocrystals and nanocrystals with anisotropic “dumbbell” shapes having a variety of tip geometries. Methods for using noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as plasmonic heaters to heat reaction solutions via plasmonic-photothermal radiation-to-heat conversion are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for forming samples of noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals having very low size and shape polydispersities from samples of mixed noble metal nanocrystals are provided. The samples include those comprising high purity, substantially monodisperse, plasmonic gold bipyramid nanocrystals. Also provided are methods of growing secondary twinned metal nanocrystals using the noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as seed particles. Like the seed bipyramid nanocrystals from which they are grown, the secondary nanocrystals are twinned nanocrystals and may also be characterized by very low size and shape polydispersities. Secondary twinned nanocrystals grown by these methods include enlarged metal bipyramid nanocrystals and nanocrystals with anisotropic “dumbbell” shapes having a variety of tip geometries. Methods for using noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as plasmonic heaters to heat reaction solutions via plasmonic-photothermal radiation-to-heat conversion are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for forming samples of noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals having very low size and shape polydispersities from samples of mixed noble metal nanocrystals are provided. The samples include those comprising high purity, substantially monodisperse, plasmonic gold bipyramid nanocrystals. Also provided are methods of growing secondary twinned metal nanocrystals using the noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as seed particles. Like the seed bipyramid nanocrystals from which they are grown, the secondary nanocrystals are twinned nanocrystals and may also be characterized by very low size and shape polydispersities. Secondary twinned nanocrystals grown by these methods include enlarged metal bipyramid nanocrystals and nanocrystals with anisotropic “dumbbell” shapes having a variety of tip geometries. Methods for using noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as plasmonic heaters to heat reaction solutions via plasmonic-photothermal radiation-to-heat conversion are also provided.

Abstract: Methods for forming samples of noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals having very low size and shape polydispersities from samples of mixed noble metal nanocrystals are provided. The samples include those comprising high purity, substantially monodisperse, plasmonic gold bipyramid nanocrystals. Also provided are methods of growing secondary twinned metal nanocrystals using the noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as seed particles. Like the seed bipyramid nanocrystals from which they are grown, the secondary nanocrystals are twinned nanocrystals and may also be characterized by very low size and shape polydispersities. Secondary twinned nanocrystals grown by these methods include enlarged metal bipyramid nanocrystals and nanocrystals with anisotropic “dumbbell” shapes having a variety of tip geometries. Methods for using noble metal bipyramid nanocrystals as plasmonic heaters to heat reaction solutions via plasmonic-photothermal radiation-to-heat conversion are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical method and device for the determination of an analyte in an assayed sample. The method and device of the invention are based on the use of semiconductor nanoparticles that carry a recognition agent. The detection is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the semiconductor nanoparticle donors, which are excited with electromagnetic radiation, and acceptors in the form of dye-labeled or semiconductor nanoparticle-labeled agents, that are immobilized to the recognition agent in the presence of the analyte and under assay conditions. The method and device of the present invention are especially useful in the determination of DNA or RNA analytes, DNA polymerase or telomerase analytes, cancer cells through telomerase activity and single-base mutations. In such cases the recognition agent is a single-stranded oligonucleotide.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a magneto-controlled method and system for the determination of an analyte in a liquid medium. The method and system of the invention are based on the use of functionalized magnetic particles, e.g. magnetic particles that carry a recognition agent, such that in the presence of the analyte and under appropriate conditions, a chemical reaction occurs yielding a reaction signal. The reaction signal may be an electric signal, a colorimetric signal, light emission or the formation of a precipitate. In accordance with the invention the reaction is significantly enhanced by inducing rapid vibrations or rotations of the magnetic particles on the barrier surface.

Abstract: A method for the detection of a target nucleic acid in a sample containing a mixture of nucleic acids. The method comprises (a) providing a solid surface; (b) attaching to the solid surface an oligonucleotide probe complementary to a segment of the target nucleic acid; (c) contacting the surface with the sample, thereby allowing the probe to bind the target nucleic acid; (d) incubating the bound target nucleic acid with the 4 nucleotide types and a replication biocatalyst thereby forming a multi-stranded nucleic acid assembly, wherein at least one of the nucleotide types is bound by a label; and (e) detecting the label on the multi-stranded nucleic acid assembly, thereby detecting the target nucleic acid. Also disclosed are a system for identifying a target nucleic acid sequence in a sample and a kit for use in the method.