Hybridization of fano and vibrational resonances in surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy of streptavidin monolayers on metamaterial substrates

We present spectral hybridization of organic and inorganic resonant materials and related bio-sensing mechanism. We utilized a bound protein (streptavidin) and a Fano-resonant metasurface to illustrate the concept. The technique allows us to investigate the vibrational modes of the streptavidin and how they couple to the underlying metasurface. This optical, label-free, nonperturbative technique is supported by a coupled mode-theory analysis that provides information on the structure and orientation of bound proteins. We can also simultaneously monitor the binding of analytes to the surface through monitoring the shift of the metasurface resonance. All of this data opens up interesting opportunities for applications in biosensing, molecular electronics and proteomics. © 2014 IEEE.