DNA origami based Au–Ag-core–shell nanoparticle dimers with single-molecule SERS sensitivity

DNA origami nanostructures are used to arrange gold nanoparticles into dimers with defined distance, which can be exploited as novel substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Single dye molecules (TAMRA and Cy3) can be placed into the SERS hot spots, with Raman enhancement up to 10¹⁰, which is sufficient to detect single molecules by Raman scattering.