Sensing of oligopeptides using localized surface plasmon resonances combined with Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Gold nanorods were fixed on an ITO plate and used for the spectroscopic sensing and Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (SALDI-MS) of oligopeptides (angiotensin I). The longitudinal surface plasmon bands of the gold nanorods responded to the 10^-10 M angiotensin solution that was cast on the ITO plate. The SALDI-MS measurements had an ultra-high sensitivity to the angiotensin on the ITO plate. A very small surface density (5 × 10^-19 mol cm^-2) of angiotensin could be detected at m/z = 1297 with a good signal/noise ratio (S/N = 11). The ITO plate, which was modified with gold nanorods, was found to be effective in collecting angiotensin molecules adjacent to the gold nanorods, and the SALDI processes that were induced by the photoabsorption of the gold nanorods efficiently contributed to the desorption and ionization of the angiotensin.