Rapid and sensitive biosensing of uropathogenic E. coli using plasmonic nanohole arrays on MIM: Bridging the gap between lab and clinical diagnostics

This study introduces a novel biosensing platform, Plasmonic Array Nanohole Technology on Metal-Insulator-Metal (PANTOMIM), designed to overcome limitations of traditional plasmonic nanohole array biosensors. PANTOMIM utilizes a metal-insulator-metal structure as a lossy waveguide to dampen metal/substrate peaks, ensuring high extinction coefficients and spectral purity for biosensing. The architecture is optimized for the 800–850 nm wavelength range, with potential for future integration into nanophotonic devices. To demonstrate its clinical utility, we applied PANTOMIM to the detection of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in urine samples. This approach addresses the need for rapid diagnosis of urinary tract infections, providing results in 15 min and requiring minimal sample preparation. The efficacy of the technology was validated in a clinical setting with a cohort of 100 patients, showcasing its potential to revolutionize the detection of UPEC. PANTOMIM combines the advantages of plasmonic nanohole arrays, including tunable periodicity, coupled plasmonic response, and extraordinary optical transmission, while mitigating the challenges associated with thin-film plasmonic metals. This innovation paves the way for integrated nanoplasmonic biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics.