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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Multicolor Fluorescence Detection for Droplet Microfluidics Using Optical Fibers
Published on: May 5, 2016
Detection of quantum-dot labelled proteins using soft glass microstructured optical fibers
Yinlan Ruan1, Erik P Schartner, Heike Ebendorff-Heidepriem
1Centre of Expertise in Photonics, School of Chemistry & Physics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia. yinlan.ruan@adelaide.edu
Abstract:
The detection of quantum-dot labeled proteins is demonstrated within lead silicate soft glass microstructured optical fibers using near infrared light. The protein concentration is measured using a new fluorescence capture approach. Light guided within the fiber is used both to excite and collect fluorescent photons, and the detection limit achieved without optimization of the fiber geometry is 1 nM, using just 3% of the guided mode of the fiber. Issues that currently restrict the detection of lower protein concentrations are discussed.
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