The use of plasmonic nanopores for single molecule detection has attracted considerable attention due to their high sensitivity and selectivity. In this study, we present a phase analysis approach for characterizing the trapping of single molecules in an AC-driven plasmonic nanopore. By analyzing the phase response of the plasmonic nanopore at select frequencies, we can differentiate between a test ligand, the antibody targeting this ligand, and the complexes that these ligands form, as well as observe their dynamics while inside the optical trap of the plasmonic nanopore. This pilot work shows the feasibility of a new approach for rapid and accurate identification of single molecules in complex mixtures.
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