Sharp-featured Au@Ag core/shell nanocuboid synthesis and the label-free ultrasensitive SERS detection of protein single-point mutations

Sharp-featured Au@Ag core/shell nanocuboids were synthesized. Simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the sharp features and in-cuboid, out-of-cuboid LSPR coupling of the nanocuboids enabled high SERS activities. The ultrasensitive detection of single-point mutations of TDP-43 proteins was demonstrated at 10 pM for the first time. This could be a general strategy for single-point mutation detection in proteins.