Unraveling the origin of chirality from plasmonic nanoparticle-protein complexes

Probing protein-nanorod aggregates The interaction of proteins with nanoparticles can enhance circular dichroism signals and provide a route for sensitive biodetection. However, ensemble measurements are insufficient for resolving the origin of plasmon-coupled circular dichroism (PCCD). Zhang et al. used single-particle circular differential scattering spectroscopy along with correlated tomographic reconstruction and electromagnetic simulations to study individual aggregates of bovine serum albumin and gold nanorods (see the Perspective by Kim and Kotov). Aggregates contribute to PCCD activity through formation of plasmonic hotspots, but single nanoparticles do not contribute. The protein does not function simply as a chiral chromophore but enables assembly of the chiral nanorod-protein complexes. Science , this issue p. 1475 ; see also p. 1378