RUI: nanobody-aunp conjugates: the impact of surface chemistry on plasmonic coupling and sers

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University $455,081 on August 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to support research on nanobody-gold nanoparticle conjugates and their plasmonic properties.

Professor Jeremy Driskell's team will develop a strategy to immobilize nanobodies onto gold nanoparticles to form stable conjugates for use as signal-generating plasmonic probes in biotechnology applications. The work will systematically investigate how pH-regulated nanobody charge affects adsorption to gold nanoparticles, develop predictive models for synthesizing stable nanobody-gold nanoparticle conjugates, and compare nanobody-based conjugates with antibody-based conjugates. The research targets applications in point-of-care diagnostics and biotechnology strategies relevant to biological threat mitigation, disease outbreak control, and therapeutic development. The project will provide undergraduate and master's students with immersive research experience in advanced analytical and biochemical techniques and support community-building initiatives to enhance retention and graduation rates among incoming students.

Performance occurs at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois through July 31, 2029.

Abstract

Professor jeremy driskell of illinois state university is studying how proteins adsorb onto gold nanoparticles to form robust, stable protein-gold nanoparticle conjugates. Gold nanoparticle conjugates, with a well-controlled adsorbed layer of protein, are key components of many commercially produced point of care tests and emerging biotechnology strategies with potential to mitigate biological threats, control disease outbreaks, and aid in therapeutic development. Specifically, we will focus on the adsorption of nanobodies onto gold nanoparticles as an alternative to antibodies that are currently used. IT is hypothesized that the replacement of antibody with a significantly smaller nanobody on the gold nanoparticle surface will enhance detection and translate to more accurate diagnostic tests. This project will provide support for undergraduate and master?S students to participate in an immersive research experience to learn advanced analytical and biochemical techniques and to gain an appreciation for a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving in biotechnology. Additionally, DR. Driskell and his team will engage with incoming students to build a supportive research community as they transition to college, in an effort to bolster retention and graduation rates. Professor jeremy driskell of illinois state university is developing a strategy to immobilize nanobodies (NBS) onto gold nanoparticles (AUNPS) to form highly functional, oriented, and stable conjugates. The conjugates will be explored as an enhanced signal generating plasmonic probe in aunp-enabled biotechnologies. First, the impact of PH-regulated NB charge on the adsorption to AUNPS will be systematically investigated. These studies will be used to develop a predictive model for the synthesis of stable and robust NB-aunp conjugates. Second, NB-aunp conjugates and antibody (AB)-aunp conjugates will be assembled into ordered structures that model aunp biotechnologies for sensing. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) shift and surface-enhance raman scattering (SERS) enhancement will be measured to quantitatively assess the impact of the protein coating that defines the aunp-aunp spacing and plasmonic coupling that is required for detection. These studies will be conducted to give better insight into the underperformance of current SERS biotechnologies and to provide a pathway to realize the full potential of SERS-based sensing. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.