Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have made a significant breakthrough in the field of nanotechnology and bio-medicine. The research team, led by Prof. Huang Jinqing, has developed an efficient and accessible single-molecule platform for detecting various amylin species, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms associated with type 2 diabetes.

The platform, known as optical plasmonic tweezer-controlled Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), utilizes on-and-off control of light to probe various amylin species in mixtures at the single-molecule level. This innovative approach has unveiled the heterogeneous structures of pH-dependent amylin species, providing crucial insights into amyloid aggregation mechanisms.

Single-molecule techniques have the capability to discern the signal of individual molecules, revolutionizing our understanding of complex and heterogeneous molecular systems. However, current single-molecule approaches are limited to ultra-dilution and/or molecular immobilization. The newly developed platform overcomes these limitations, enabling efficient and high-throughput single-molecule characterization at physiological concentrations.

The research team’s novel single-molecule platform combines optical plasmonic manipulation and SERS measurement to reduce the detection volume and elevate signal enhancement. This advancement allows for the study of pH-dependent amylin species in dynamic mixtures, addressing the challenges of detecting rare, transient, and heterogeneous amylin species.

The platform involves the construction of a plasmonic junction between two Ag nanoparticle-coated silica microbeads to trap an additional Ag nanoparticle, forming a dynamic nanocavity upon laser irradiation. This nanocavity can encapsulate a single or a few molecules for sensitive SERS characterizations, providing a new avenue for studying amylin species at the molecular level.

This groundbreaking research holds promise for advancing our understanding of amyloid aggregation mechanisms and may contribute to the development of targeted interventions for type 2 diabetes. The development of this single-molecule platform represents a significant leap forward in the field of bio-medicine and nanotechnology, offering new opportunities for studying complex molecular systems.